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This single‑session lecture introduces the life, writings, and cultural importance of Charles Burney (1726–1814), one of the earliest and most influential historians of music. Through his extensive travels, vivid diaries, and ambitious multi‑volume History of Music, Burney established many of the foundations of modern music historiography. This session will explore his methods, the world he documented, and the lasting impact of his scholarship on how we study and interpret musical culture today.
What will we cover?
• Charles Burney’s life, education, and musical background • The General History of Music: scope, aims, and scholarly significance • Burney’s European travel diaries: encounters with composers, performers, and institutions • His contributions to early ethnomusicological thinking • Burney’s role in shaping Enlightenment views of music • Strengths and limitations of his historical approach • Burney’s legacy in later musicology and cultural history
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Understand Charles Burney’s importance as an early historian of music • Identify the key themes, methods, and aims of his major writings • Recognise how Burney’s travels contributed to his historical perspective • Discuss the continuing influence of his work on modern music scholarship
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
- Sessions will comprise combinations of lecture, discussion, quizzes, guided listening, video and score study. - Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via google classroom. - You will be encouraged to do extra reading outside class.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Tutor presentation, guided listening and watching, class discussion. Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom, with recommendations to encourage further exploration after the course.
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 live performances.
Pauline Greene studied composition at Nottingham University and then composed, performed and was Musical Director with various theatre companies. She taught flute and composition, performing her music across the UK at various venues, including the Southbank Centre and the Edinburgh Festival, with her group The Concert Party, which she managed and directed. She has taught at the Universities of Middlesex and Hertfordshire, and ran the Music Access course at Morley College. She taught at Birkbeck from 1984-2023, moving from Music to Arts Management, and currently lectures on the MA in Events and Experience Management at Goldsmiths. She has given talks at the Royal Opera House, Wigmore Hall and Glyndebourne. At City Lit Pauline teaches a wide range of music history courses, with specialisms in opera, music for dance, theatre and film, musical analysis, and music since 1900. She is still involved in the organisation of small-scale charity concerts and one-off musical events, and she sings and plays with several small groups.
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/great-musicians-charles-burney3034549Great musicians: Charles Burneyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Exploring-opera-3-MD999-1024.jpg3939GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Performing arts/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Music history/Courses/New courses228513141351136317431228513141351<p>Discover the pioneering historian whose writings shaped our understanding of 18th‑century music.</p>003034405Great musicians: Charles Burney3939https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Exploring-opera-3-MD999-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeTueKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekday2027-04-13T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allApr 2027Performing artsMD701B3939Great musicians: Charles Burney393939Pauline Greenegreat-musicians-charles-burney/md701b-2627<p>Discover the pioneering historian whose writings shaped our understanding of 18th‑century music.</p>0000-Available|2027-04-13 00:00:00<p>This single‑session lecture introduces the life, writings, and cultural importance of Charles Burney (1726–1814), one of the earliest and most influential historians of music. Through his extensive travels, vivid diaries, and ambitious multi‑volume History of Music, Burney established many of the foundations of modern music historiography. This session will explore his methods, the world he documented, and the lasting impact of his scholarship on how we study and interpret musical culture today.</p><p>Discover the pioneering historian whose writings shaped our understanding of 18th‑century music.</p><p>• Charles Burney’s life, education, and musical background<br>• The General History of Music: scope, aims, and scholarly significance<br>• Burney’s European travel diaries: encounters with composers, performers, and institutions<br>• His contributions to early ethnomusicological thinking<br>• Burney’s role in shaping Enlightenment views of music<br>• Strengths and limitations of his historical approach<br>• Burney’s legacy in later musicology and cultural history</p><p>• Understand Charles Burney’s importance as an early historian of music<br>• Identify the key themes, methods, and aims of his major writings<br>• Recognise how Burney’s travels contributed to his historical perspective<br>• Discuss the continuing influence of his work on modern music scholarship</p><p>- Sessions will comprise combinations of lecture, discussion, quizzes, guided listening, video and score study. <br>- Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via google classroom.<br>- You will be encouraged to do extra reading outside class.</p><p>Tutor presentation, guided listening and watching, class discussion. Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom, with recommendations to encourage further exploration after the course.</p><p>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 live performances.</p><p>City Lit offers a wide range of <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Music history courses</a>. For more information, visit our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Guide to the Music history programme</a>. </p>MusicMusic historyvirtual393939MD701BNONETue13/04/2713:30 - 15:3013:3015:301 session1One-off onlyDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetPauline GreeneBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2027-04-13T00:00:00+00:00Apr 2027Performing arts3939Great musicians: Charles Burneygreat-musicians-charles-burney/md701b-2627<p>Discover the pioneering historian whose writings shaped our understanding of 18th‑century music.</p>0000-Available|2027-04-13 00:00:00<p>This single‑session lecture introduces the life, writings, and cultural importance of Charles Burney (1726–1814), one of the earliest and most influential historians of music. Through his extensive travels, vivid diaries, and ambitious multi‑volume History of Music, Burney established many of the foundations of modern music historiography. This session will explore his methods, the world he documented, and the lasting impact of his scholarship on how we study and interpret musical culture today.</p><p>Discover the pioneering historian whose writings shaped our understanding of 18th‑century music.</p><p>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Charles Burney’s life, education, and musical background<br>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The General History of Music: scope, aims, and scholarly significance<br>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Burney’s European travel diaries: encounters with composers, performers, and institutions<br>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;His contributions to early ethnomusicological thinking<br>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Burney’s role in shaping Enlightenment views of music<br>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Strengths and limitations of his historical approach<br>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Burney’s legacy in later musicology and cultural history</p><p>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Understand Charles Burney’s importance as an early historian of music<br>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Identify the key themes, methods, and aims of his major writings<br>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Recognise how Burney’s travels contributed to his historical perspective<br>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Discuss the continuing influence of his work on modern music scholarship</p><p>- Sessions will comprise combinations of lecture, discussion, quizzes, guided listening, video and score study.&nbsp;<br>- Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via google classroom.<br>- You will be encouraged to do extra reading outside class.</p><p>Tutor presentation, guided listening and watching, class discussion.&nbsp;Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom, with recommendations to encourage further exploration after the course.</p><p>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 live performances.</p><p>City Lit offers a wide range of <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Music history courses</a>. For more information, visit our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Guide to the Music history programme</a>.&nbsp;</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
