Course Description

Introduction to Classical Music

Description

If you have always wanted to learn about the history of music, but have been afraid of getting in over your head, then this is the course for you. This survey of Western classical music uses plain English and carefully selected musical examples to present fundamental musical concepts and important historical developments, beginning with the Greek philosophers and ending around 1850 with the rise of “nationalistic” works such as Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsodies. Along the way, you’ll learn about the surprising connections between modern and ancient music, and about the people who brought the music to life. Did you know, for example, that the musical pattern that made “Louie, Louie” and “Twist and Shout” such popular hits was actually written 2,500 years ago? Sign on for our “musical mystery tour” of the Western world, and you’ll soon be touting your very own list of the top ten hits of all time.

Objectives

At the end of this course, the learner will be able to:

• Identify the composers and performers who developed the musical forms and styles we have come to call Western classical music.
• List in chronological order the primary musical styles and forms associated with classical music, from its formal beginnings in the Renaissance to its full maturity during the Romantic period.
• List three books or other references where learners can find additional information about classical music.
• From a list of compositions, correctly match a well-known composition to its particular musical style.
• From a list of compositions, correctly match a classical composition to its composer.

Materials:

A History of Western Music (6th Edition)
Recognized as the finest survey of Western art music in the English language, this distinguished book has enlightened a multitude of music lovers since it first appeared in 1960. This handsome new edition incorporates the latest advances in music scholarship.

Additional materials:

Classical Music: The 50 Greatest Composers and Their 1,000 Greatest Works

From Bach to Mozart to Wagner, this comprehensive, opinionated, one-volume guide ranks the top 50 classical composers, provides a detailed and anecdotal look at the life of each, and analyzes five essential works of each composer. Goulding offers specific recommendations for the best CDs, concise explanations of music terms, and more.
The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection: The 350 Essential Works

In his informed and indispensable guide, National Public Radio’s Ted Libbey takes listeners by the hand through the classical repertory to build a music library. Now, five years after its original publication — with five years of new performances to consider, new releases to review, reissues to re-evaluate — Libbey has completely revised and updated the book. While sticking to the essential 350 works, one-third of the selections and reviews are new, and 50 percent of the discography has changed to keep all suggested CDs up-to-date.
The Vintage Guide to Classical Music

The most readable and comprehensive guide to enjoying over 500 years of classical music — from Gregorian chants, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to Johannes Brahms, Igor Stravinsky, John Cage, and beyond. The Vintage Guide to Classical Music is a lively — and opinionated — musical history and an insider’s key to the personalities, epochs, and genres of the Western classical tradition.
Classical Music for Dummies

Excellent either for getting you started from scratch or heightening an appreciation already in place, this in-depth guide will make going to concerts, listening to recordings, or even just talking about classical music infinitely more enjoyable.