Exploring classical music: module 2
Choose a start date
- Course Code: MD021B
- Dates: 13/01/25 - 24/03/25
- Time: 14:00 - 15:30
- Taught: Mon, Daytime
- Duration: 10 sessions (over 11 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Edward Breen
Course Code: MD021B
Choose a start date
Duration: 10 sessions (over 11 weeks)
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.
What is the course about?
This classic music appreciation course will lead you on a fascinating journey through the history and development of classical music, guiding you through a selection of notable sacred and secular works and explaining key musical changes at each stage. This module is the one of three forming our beginners’ guide to Western classical music.
In module 2 we explore music and composers from the high Baroque to the early Romantic period.
No previous musical knowledge is necessary.
What will we cover?
- A chronological survey of music from high Baroque through the 18th century
- the elements of music (melody, harmony, rhythm etc) and how they work
- the development of styles (Classical, Baroque etc) and genres (opera, sonata, oratorio, sacred and secular cantata, symphony, concerto etc)
- focus on certain key composers and their works including Bach’s Brandenburg concertos, opera and oratorio by Handel and Mozart and symphonies by Haydn and Beethoven.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Have an overview of the development of classical music through the eighteenth century
- show an understanding of the elements of music (melody, harmony, rhythm etc.) and how they work
- have an understanding of the development of styles (Classical, early Baroque etc) and genres (Symphony, Cantata etc)
- show specific knowledge of certain key composers and their works.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is designed as an overview for absolute beginners. However, we will look at some music manuscripts and learn to identify 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.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
- Tutor presentation and explanation, including handouts
- Guided listening and watching of audio and audio-visual examples
- Class discussion and debate
- Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via google classroom.
- You will be encouraged to do extra reading outside class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring a notebook and pen.
You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class, links to these materials will be available online after each session.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
This course continues with Exploring classical music - Module 3 (MD020C) in September.
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.
Edward teaches music history and music theory at City lit where he is Head of Programme: Advanced Studies in the School of Performing Arts. His specialism is early music (medieval, renaissance and baroque periods) and he completed his PhD in historical musicology at King's College London (2013) on the performance of medieval music. Outside of teaching, Edward is a regular contributor to Gramophone magazine and has lectured for Dartington International Summer School, London's Southbank Centre and The British Library. He has also worked as a researcher for BBC Proms and written for the journal Early Music (OUP). His recent essays are published in: The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Historical Performance in Music, (Cambridge University Press); The Montpellier Codex: Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Music 16 (Boydell Press); Recomposing the Past: Representations of Early Music on Stage and Screen (Ashgate 2018); and 30-Second Classical Music (Ivy Press).
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.
