The music history book club meets towards the end of each term to discuss novels and biographies with musical themes and references relevant to the music history programme.
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 addition to the Crime Classics series is an immersive musical mystery, featuring diagrams of the orchestra arrangement and four pages of musical notation with relevance to the plot. First published in 1941 but out-of-print since, this is by a lost writer of the genre, Sebastian Farr (a pseudonym for Eric Walter Blom), a prolific Swiss-born and British-naturalised music lexicographer, music critic and writer.
What will we cover?
- Biographical discussion about key events in the lives of the composer(s) featured in these stories - Discussion of selected works mentioned in the book - Critical reception of the book (reviews etc…) - Our personal perceptions of this work.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- discuss one or two themes in the book with confidence - voice opinions with fellow music enthusiasts - discuss related works (films inspired by the book, or other similar books).
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
- This book club meeting is suitable for absolute beginners. You don’t need to know lots about music to join in. However, we do ask that you read the book (or as much of it as possible) so that you can join in the discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The single session will comprise combinations of mini-lecture, question-and-answer, guided listening, video and much discussion. The tutor may lead on topics (e.g. presenting a featured work in more detail) which the book club students will then discuss. At all times you are encouraged to present your own opinions and knowledge to the group and join in thoughtful and respectful discussion.
You may wish to enjoy extra reading after this class and suggestions will be listed on Google Classroom afterwards.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will need a good internet connection and a computer with microphone & webcam. If using a tablet it will need a screen large enough for you to comfortably view the class handouts. Please bring your copy of the chosen book to the session so that you can refer to it during discussions. You may wish to bring a pen/pencil and a folder to keep notes. You may also wish to purchase some of the other music books or recordings discussed in class, links to these materials will be available online after the session.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
To find out more about music history classes Music history courses in London and online which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.
Dr Katy Hamilton is a freelance researcher, writer and presenter on music. She is fast becoming one of the UK’s most sought-after speakers on music, providing talks for a host of organisations including the Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, BBC Proms, Ryedale Festival and Oxford Lieder Festival. In addition, she regularly writes programme notes for the Salzburg Festival, North Norfolk Festival and the Philharmonia Orchestra, and is a frequent contributor to BBC Radio 3’s Record Review. Katy worked as Graham Johnson’s research assistant for his monumental Franz Schubert: The Songs and their Poets (Yale University Press, 2014) and is co-editor of Brahms in the Home and the Concert Hall (Cambridge University Press, 2014) and Brahms in Context (Cambridge University Press, 2019). In addition to her research and presentation work, Katy has taught at the Royal College of Music, City Lit, the University of Nottingham and Middlesex University, working with students in performance workshops and music history classes. She has been teaching Music History courses at City Lit since 2015. She is also Public Events Programmer at the Foundling Museum in central London.
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/music-history-bookclub-death-on-the-downbeat2803221Music history bookclub: Death on the Downbeathttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/beethoven-an-introduction-to-his-music-md041b.jpg1919GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Performing arts/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Music history/Courses/Online courses228513141351136317311228513141351The music history book club meets towards the end of each term to discuss novels and biographies with musical themes and references relevant to the music history programme.002803185Music history bookclub: Death on the Downbeat1919https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/beethoven-an-introduction-to-his-music-md041b.jpgInStockDaytimeFriOnlineAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekday2026-02-13T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allFeb 2026Performing artsMD615D1919Music history bookclub: Death on the Downbeat191919Katy Hamiltonmusic-history-bookclub-death-on-the-downbeat/md615d-2526The music history book club meets towards the end of each term to discuss novels and biographies with musical themes and references relevant to the music history programme.0000-Available|2026-02-13 00:00:00<p><a href="https://shop.bl.uk/products/death-on-the-down-beat-an-orchestral-fantasy-of-detection">Death on the Downbeat</a></p><p>British Library Crime Classics</p><p>This addition to the Crime Classics series is an immersive musical mystery, featuring diagrams of the orchestra arrangement and four pages of musical notation with relevance to the plot. First published in 1941 but out-of-print since, this is by a lost writer of the genre, Sebastian Farr (a pseudonym for Eric Walter Blom), a prolific Swiss-born and British-naturalised music lexicographer, music critic and writer.</p>The music history book club meets towards the end of each term to discuss novels and biographies with musical themes and references relevant to the music history programme.- Biographical discussion about key events in the lives of the composer(s) featured in these stories<br/>- Discussion of selected works mentioned in the book<br/>- Critical reception of the book (reviews etc…)<br/>- Our personal perceptions of this work.- discuss one or two themes in the book with confidence<br/>- voice opinions with fellow music enthusiasts<br/>- discuss related works (films inspired by the book, or other similar books).- This book club meeting is suitable for absolute beginners. You don’t need to know lots about music to join in. However, we do ask that you read the book (or as much of it as possible) so that you can join in the discussions.The single session will comprise combinations of mini-lecture, question-and-answer, guided listening, video and much discussion. The tutor may lead on topics (e.g. presenting a featured work in more detail) which the book club students will then discuss. At all times you are encouraged to present your own opinions and knowledge to the group and join in thoughtful and respectful discussion.<br/><br/>You may wish to enjoy extra reading after this class and suggestions will be listed on Google Classroom afterwards.You will need a good internet connection and a computer with microphone & webcam. If using a tablet it will need a screen large enough for you to comfortably view the class handouts.<br/>Please bring your copy of the chosen book to the session so that you can refer to it during discussions.<br/>You may wish to bring a pen/pencil and a folder to keep notes. You may also wish to purchase some of the other music books or recordings discussed in class, links to these materials will be available online after the session.To find out more about music history classes <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history"> Music history courses in London and online</a> which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.MusicMusic historyvirtual191919MD615DNONEFri13/02/2611:00 - 12:3011:0012:301 session1One-off onlyDaytimeWeekdayOnlineOnlineKaty HamiltonBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-02-13T00:00:00+00:00Feb 2026Performing arts1919Music history bookclub: Death on the Downbeatmusic-history-bookclub-death-on-the-downbeat/md615d-2526The music history book club meets towards the end of each term to discuss novels and biographies with musical themes and references relevant to the music history programme.0000-Available|2026-02-13 00:00:00<p><a href="https://shop.bl.uk/products/death-on-the-down-beat-an-orchestral-fantasy-of-detection">Death on the Downbeat</a></p><p>British Library Crime Classics</p><p>This addition to the Crime Classics series is an immersive musical mystery, featuring diagrams of the orchestra arrangement and four pages of musical notation with relevance to the plot. First published in 1941 but out-of-print since, this is by a lost writer of the genre, Sebastian Farr (a pseudonym for Eric Walter Blom), a prolific Swiss-born and British-naturalised music lexicographer, music critic and writer.</p>The music history book club meets towards the end of each term to discuss novels and biographies with musical themes and references relevant to the music history programme.- Biographical discussion about key events in the lives of the composer(s) featured in these stories<br/>- Discussion of selected works mentioned in the book<br/>- Critical reception of the book (reviews etc…)<br/>- Our personal perceptions of this work.- discuss one or two themes in the book with confidence<br/>- voice opinions with fellow music enthusiasts<br/>- discuss related works (films inspired by the book, or other similar books).- This book club meeting is suitable for absolute beginners. You don’t need to know lots about music to join in. However, we do ask that you read the book (or as much of it as possible) so that you can join in the discussions.The single session will comprise combinations of mini-lecture, question-and-answer, guided listening, video and much discussion. The tutor may lead on topics (e.g. presenting a featured work in more detail) which the book club students will then discuss. At all times you are encouraged to present your own opinions and knowledge to the group and join in thoughtful and respectful discussion.<br/><br/>You may wish to enjoy extra reading after this class and suggestions will be listed on Google Classroom afterwards.You will need a good internet connection and a computer with microphone &amp; webcam. If using a tablet it will need a screen large enough for you to comfortably view the class handouts.<br/>Please bring your copy of the chosen book to the session so that you can refer to it during discussions.<br/>You may wish to bring a pen/pencil and a folder to keep notes. You may also wish to purchase some of the other music books or recordings discussed in class, links to these materials will be available online after the session.To find out more about music history classes <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history"> Music history courses in London and online</a> which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.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
