This course explores key ideas in art music during the twentieth century. Each week’s topic is introduced through study of a seminal musical work. Break Week: 30th Oct 2025 or Break week: 25-31 May 2026
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This course offers a (very) brief history of Western art music during the 20th century. Suitable for classical music enthusiasts as well as near beginners. Each week we will look at a key work of classical music from the twentieth century and use it as a jumping off point to discuss the important historical and aesthetic developments that effected composition in the modern era. The course consists of some well known 20th century classics alongside some exciting, more unfamiliar, choices.
What will we cover?
- Opera: Including Berg’s Lulu - The influence of Jazz: Including works by Ives & Ellington - The continuation of Romanticism: Including Rachmaninov and Hollywood composers - Postmodernism: Adams, Zorn, Plunderphonics - Space, Silence, Drone: Cage, Shiomi, Lamb, Malone
- Electronic innovations: Radigue, the Barons, Oram, Carl Stone, - The influence of the global: Takemitsu, Nancarrow, Oram - The new Sublime: Messiaen, Tavener, Ligeti - The influence of Rock and Pop: Reich, Glass, Caroline Shaw - Where are we now: overview of classical music of the last 10 years.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- demonstrate an awareness of key works from the c20th in a range of styles. - understand the significance of the works in relation to the history of c20th classical music - Understand key concepts relating to c20th Western art and music and their historical context.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is an overview for absolute beginners. You do not need any previous knowledge of this topic. We may occasionally look at music manuscripts and point out key features of music notation (how many voices are singing, etc…) so this course will be most suitable for those who are curious and ambitious to learn. It is also ideal for gap-year students considering a music degree course in future who wish to study a chronological overview of Western classical music genres.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Tutor presentation, guided listening, class discussion and debate, video and score study. Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom: handouts, scores, links to online audio and video, recommendations to encourage and support further reading and listening outside class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please have a pen and notebook to make your own notes during class. You may wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class; links to these materials will be available after each session. You may also wish to attend or take part in live performances.
Neil Luck is a composer and researcher with a broad range of academic and practical experience in the field of classical music. He is based in London, and currently completing a PhD at the University of York. As a practising composer, his work has been presented internationally, at leading festivals and institutions including the BBC Proms and the Tate Modern. As a teacher and speaker he has given talks, classes and seminars at universities, schools, galleries, and conferences. He has also created and presented radio programmes for stations such as BBC Radio 3 and Resonance FM.
Katy HomdenSee moreSee less
We’re sorry. We don’t have a bio ready for the tutor of this class at the moment, but we’re working on it! Watch this space.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/exploring-classical-music-41184914Exploring classical music 4https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Exploring-opera-3-MD999-1024.jpg219219GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Performing arts/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Music history/Courses/Online courses228513141351136317311228513141351<p>This course explores key ideas in art music during the twentieth century. Each week’s topic is introduced through study of a seminal musical work. <strong>Break Week: 30th Oct 2025 or Break week: 25-31 May 2026</strong></p>001182250Exploring classical music 4219219https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Exploring-opera-3-MD999-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeThuOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-04-23T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersApr 2026Performing artsMD020D219219Exploring classical music 4175153219Neil Luckexploring-classical-music-4/md020d-2526<p>This course explores key ideas in art music during the twentieth century. Each week’s topic is introduced through study of a seminal musical work. <strong>Break Week: 30th Oct 2025 or Break week: 25-31 May 2026</strong></p>0000-Available|2026-04-23 00:00:00This course offers a (very) brief history of Western art music during the 20th century. Suitable for classical music enthusiasts as well as near beginners. Each week we will look at a key work of classical music from the twentieth century and use it as a jumping off point to discuss the important historical and aesthetic developments that effected composition in the modern era. The course consists of some well known 20th century classics alongside some exciting, more unfamiliar, choices.<p>This course explores key ideas in art music during the twentieth century. Each week’s topic is introduced through study of a seminal musical work. <strong>Break Week: 30th Oct 2025 or Break week: 25-31 May 2026</strong></p>- Opera: Including Berg’s Lulu<br/>- The influence of Jazz: Including works by Ives & Ellington<br/>- The continuation of Romanticism: Including Rachmaninov and Hollywood composers<br/>- Postmodernism: Adams, Zorn, Plunderphonics<br/>- Space, Silence, Drone: Cage, Shiomi, Lamb, Malone<br/><br/>- Electronic innovations: Radigue, the Barons, Oram, Carl Stone,<br/>- The influence of the global: Takemitsu, Nancarrow, Oram<br/>- The new Sublime: Messiaen, Tavener, Ligeti<br/>- The influence of Rock and Pop: Reich, Glass, Caroline Shaw<br/>- Where are we now: overview of classical music of the last 10 years.- demonstrate an awareness of key works from the c20th in a range of styles. <br/>- understand the significance of the works in relation to the history of c20th classical music<br/>- Understand key concepts relating to c20th Western art and music and their historical context.<p>This course is an overview for absolute beginners. You do not need any previous knowledge of this topic. We may occasionally look at music manuscripts and point out key features of music notation (how many voices are singing, etc…) so this course will be most suitable for those who are curious and ambitious to learn. It is also ideal for gap-year students considering a music degree course in future who wish to study a chronological overview of Western classical music genres.</p>Tutor presentation, guided listening, class discussion and debate, video and score study.<br/>Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom: handouts, scores, links to online audio and video, recommendations to encourage and support further reading and listening outside class.Please have a pen and notebook to make your own notes during class. You may wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class; links to these materials will be available after each session. You may also wish to attend or take part in live performances.<p>Following this course you may be interested in more specialist topics in City Lit's wide range of <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history">Music history courses</a>. For more information, visit our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme">Guide to the Music history programme</a>.</p>MusicMusic historyvirtual3034321Exploring classical music 4229229https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Exploring-opera-3-MD999-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeThuOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-24T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersSep 2026Performing artsMD025D229229Exploring classical music 4229160229Neil Luckexploring-classical-music-4/md025d-2627<p>This course explores key ideas in art music during the twentieth century. Each week’s topic is introduced through study of a seminal musical work. <strong>Break Week: 29th Oct 2026 or Break week: 1st Jun 2027</strong></p>0000-Available|2026-09-24 00:00:00This course offers a (very) brief history of Western art music during the 20th century. Suitable for classical music enthusiasts as well as near beginners. Each week we will look at a key work of classical music from the twentieth century and use it as a jumping off point to discuss the important historical and aesthetic developments that effected composition in the modern era. The course consists of some well known 20th century classics alongside some exciting, more unfamiliar, choices.<p>This course explores key ideas in art music during the twentieth century. Each week’s topic is introduced through study of a seminal musical work. <strong>Break Week: 29th Oct 2026 or Break week: 1st Jun 2027</strong></p>- Opera: Including Berg’s Lulu<br/>- The influence of Jazz: Including works by Ives & Ellington<br/>- The continuation of Romanticism: Including Rachmaninov and Hollywood composers<br/>- Postmodernism: Adams, Zorn, Plunderphonics<br/>- Space, Silence, Drone: Cage, Shiomi, Lamb, Malone<br/><br/>- Electronic innovations: Radigue, the Barons, Oram, Carl Stone,<br/>- The influence of the global: Takemitsu, Nancarrow, Oram<br/>- The new Sublime: Messiaen, Tavener, Ligeti<br/>- The influence of Rock and Pop: Reich, Glass, Caroline Shaw<br/>- Where are we now: overview of classical music of the last 10 years.- demonstrate an awareness of key works from the c20th in a range of styles. <br/>- understand the significance of the works in relation to the history of c20th classical music<br/>- Understand key concepts relating to c20th Western art and music and their historical context.<p>This course is an overview for absolute beginners. You do not need any previous knowledge of this topic. We may occasionally look at music manuscripts and point out key features of music notation (how many voices are singing, etc…) so this course will be most suitable for those who are curious and ambitious to learn. It is also ideal for gap-year students considering a music degree course in future who wish to study a chronological overview of Western classical music genres.</p>Tutor presentation, guided listening, class discussion and debate, video and score study.<br/>Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom: handouts, scores, links to online audio and video, recommendations to encourage and support further reading and listening outside class.Please have a pen and notebook to make your own notes during class. You may wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class; links to these materials will be available after each session. You may also wish to attend or take part in live performances.<p>We recommend <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/exploring-opera-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exploring opera 1</a></p><p>Following this course you may be interested in more specialist topics in City Lit's wide range of <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Music history courses</a>. For more information, visit our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Guide to the Music history programme</a>.</p>MusicMusic historyvirtual3034342Exploring classical music 4299299https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Exploring-opera-3-MD999-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeTueKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2027-04-20T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allApr 2027Performing artsMD036D299299Exploring classical music 4239209299Katy Homdenexploring-classical-music-4/md036d-2627<p>This course explores key ideas in art music during the twentieth century. Each week’s topic is introduced through study of a seminal musical work. <strong>Break Week: 29th Oct 2026 or Break week: 1st Jun 2027</strong></p>0000-Available|2027-04-20 00:00:00This course offers a (very) brief history of Western art music during the 20th century. Suitable for classical music enthusiasts as well as near beginners. Each week we will look at a key work of classical music from the twentieth century and use it as a jumping off point to discuss the important historical and aesthetic developments that effected composition in the modern era. The course consists of some well known 20th century classics alongside some exciting, more unfamiliar, choices.<p>This course explores key ideas in art music during the twentieth century. Each week’s topic is introduced through study of a seminal musical work. <strong>Break Week: 29th Oct 2026 or Break week: 1st Jun 2027</strong></p>- Opera: Including Berg’s Lulu<br/>- The influence of Jazz: Including works by Ives & Ellington<br/>- The continuation of Romanticism: Including Rachmaninov and Hollywood composers<br/>- Postmodernism: Adams, Zorn, Plunderphonics<br/>- Space, Silence, Drone: Cage, Shiomi, Lamb, Malone<br/><br/>- Electronic innovations: Radigue, the Barons, Oram, Carl Stone,<br/>- The influence of the global: Takemitsu, Nancarrow, Oram<br/>- The new Sublime: Messiaen, Tavener, Ligeti<br/>- The influence of Rock and Pop: Reich, Glass, Caroline Shaw<br/>- Where are we now: overview of classical music of the last 10 years.- demonstrate an awareness of key works from the c20th in a range of styles. <br/>- understand the significance of the works in relation to the history of c20th classical music<br/>- Understand key concepts relating to c20th Western art and music and their historical context.<p>This course is an overview for absolute beginners. You do not need any previous knowledge of this topic. We may occasionally look at music manuscripts and point out key features of music notation (how many voices are singing, etc…) so this course will be most suitable for those who are curious and ambitious to learn. It is also ideal for gap-year students considering a music degree course in future who wish to study a chronological overview of Western classical music genres.</p>Tutor presentation, guided listening, class discussion and debate, video and score study.<br/>Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom: handouts, scores, links to online audio and video, recommendations to encourage and support further reading and listening outside class.Please have a pen and notebook to make your own notes during class. You may wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class; links to these materials will be available after each session. You may also wish to attend or take part in live performances.<p>We recommend <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/exploring-opera-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exploring opera 1</a></p><p>Following this course you may be interested in more specialist topics in City Lit's wide range of <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Music history courses</a>. For more information, visit our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Guide to the Music history programme</a>.</p>MusicMusic historyvirtual175,229,239219,229,299153,160,209MD020D,MD025D,MD036DNONEThu,Tue23/04/26 - 02/07/2616:00 - 17:3016:0017:3010 sessions (over 11 weeks)105-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayOnlineOnline,Keeley StreetNeil Luck,Katy HomdenBeginners,Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-04-23T00:00:00+00:00,2026-09-24T00:00:00+00:00,2027-04-20T00:00:00+00:00Apr 2026,Sep 2026,Apr 2027Performing arts219219,229,299Exploring classical music 4exploring-classical-music-4/md020d-2526,exploring-classical-music-4/md025d-2627,exploring-classical-music-4/md036d-2627<p>This course explores key ideas in art music during the twentieth century. Each week’s topic is introduced through study of a seminal musical work. <strong>Break Week: 30th Oct 2025 or Break week: 25-31 May 2026</strong></p>,<p>This course explores key ideas in art music during the twentieth century. Each week’s topic is introduced through study of a seminal musical work. <strong>Break Week: 29th Oct 2026 or Break week: 1st Jun 2027</strong></p>0000-Available|2026-04-23 00:00:00This course offers a (very) brief history of Western art music during the 20th century. Suitable for classical music enthusiasts as well as near beginners. Each week we will look at a key work of classical music from the twentieth century and use it as a jumping off point to discuss the important historical and aesthetic developments that effected composition in the modern era. The course consists of some well known 20th century classics alongside some exciting, more unfamiliar, choices.<p>This course explores key ideas in art music during the twentieth century. Each week’s topic is introduced through study of a seminal musical work. <strong>Break Week: 30th Oct 2025 or Break week: 25-31 May 2026</strong></p>,<p>This course explores key ideas in art music during the twentieth century. Each week’s topic is introduced through study of a seminal musical work. <strong>Break Week: 29th Oct 2026 or Break week: 1st Jun 2027</strong></p>- Opera: Including Berg’s Lulu<br/>- The influence of Jazz: Including works by Ives &amp; Ellington<br/>- The continuation of Romanticism: Including Rachmaninov and Hollywood composers<br/>- Postmodernism: Adams, Zorn, Plunderphonics<br/>- Space, Silence, Drone: Cage, Shiomi, Lamb, Malone<br/><br/>- Electronic innovations: Radigue, the Barons, Oram, Carl Stone,<br/>- The influence of the global: Takemitsu, Nancarrow, Oram<br/>- The new Sublime: Messiaen, Tavener, Ligeti<br/>- The influence of Rock and Pop: Reich, Glass, Caroline Shaw<br/>- Where are we now: overview of classical music of the last 10 years.- demonstrate an awareness of key works from the c20th in a range of styles. <br/>- understand the significance of the works in relation to the history of c20th classical music<br/>- Understand key concepts relating to c20th Western art and music and their historical context.<p>This course is an overview for absolute beginners. You do not need any previous knowledge of this topic. We may occasionally look at music manuscripts and point out key features of music notation (how many voices are singing, etc…) so this course will be most suitable for those who are curious and ambitious to learn. It is also ideal for gap-year students considering a music degree course in future who wish to study a chronological overview of Western classical music genres.</p>Tutor presentation, guided listening, class discussion and debate, video and score study.<br/>Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom: handouts, scores, links to online audio and video, recommendations to encourage and support further reading and listening outside class.Please have a pen and notebook to make your own notes during class. You may wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class; links to these materials will be available after each session. You may also wish to attend or take part in live performances.<p>Following this course you may be interested in more specialist topics in City Lit's wide range of <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history">Music history courses</a>. For more information, visit our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme">Guide to the Music history programme</a>.</p>,<p>We recommend <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/exploring-opera-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exploring opera 1</a></p><p>Following this course you may be interested in more specialist topics in City Lit's wide range of <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Music history courses</a>. For more information, visit our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Guide to the Music history programme</a>.</p>MusicMusic historyconfigurable
13631351Music historyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history1/2/285/1314/1351/13631/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Music history
