A Sound Education
Music History & Appreciation for Adults & Seniors
Baroque to Broadway
This course introduces the major periods of Classical music from Baroque to contemporary, with fascinating facts and interesting details about major composers, their works and lives against a historic background. Eight 90-minute classes include handouts, listening guides and class discussion, with almost a hundred listening examples. Participants need have no prior musical education or experience, apart from a desire to learn and to enjoy music.
sing from your heart
Sing together in a variety of styles and music, from American traditional songs to Broadway, rounds and classics, in unison and parts. Eight or twelve 60 minute rehearsals culminate in a performance. No previous choral experience or musical background is necessary - just bring your voice and enthusiasm! All music and singing skills are provided. Singing is excellent for breathing and posture, and enriches daily life.
Musical Flavorites
A series of ninety minute presentations about the music and history of culturally important cities. These include a catered afternoon tea and coffee, with appropriate pastries, cakes etc.
Topics include:
Venice - The Masters of San Marco, Paris - The Fabulous French, St. Petersburg - Romance and the Russians, Vienna - Mozart to Strauss, New York - Broadway Babies, London - Tunes from the Tudors.
Each of these presentations is a preview to an optional separate four week course which investigates the music, composers, history and culture in more detail, with many listening examples and informative handouts.
the educated ear
An investigation of the elements of music - melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre/orchestration, and how they are combined in different ways to create passion and excitement in music. A series of four 90-minute sessions includes guided listening to music from medieval to modern, folk to blues, as well as detailed handouts and listening guides.
Myth and Magic in Music
Find myth and magic, fantasy and fairy tales in famous and lesser-known musical works. In this series of four 90-minute sessions discover masterpieces by Dukas, Mahler, Strauss, Mussorgsky, Mozart, and more.
Six Centuries of Love Songs
From the madrigals and chivalry of the Renaissance to Broadway hits, we investigate songs of love and loss through the ages, in this series of four 90-minute sessions.
Maestros of Music
This course examines eight major composers in detail, with their lives, works, influences and inspirations. Eight 90-minute sessions include handouts and listening guides, as well as many musical examples of important compositions.
The Symphony
Participants learn how the symphony began in the opera houses of Italy, and follow its development through the classical and romantic periods. Four 90-minute sessions include handouts and listening guides, and over 25 movements from famous symphonies.
Opera
Find out how opera began in a back room in a Florentine palazzo, why the heroine is always a soprano, and the difference between comic opera and opera buffa. For the opera novice as well as the opera aficionado, this four 90-minute session course covers the basics and the esoteric in the wonderful world of make-believe - opera.
The Piano concerto
Experience the development of the concerto from the Classical period with its fortepiano to the intense emotion and dynamic virtuosity of the Romantic composers. In six 90-minute sessions we trace the growth of the orchestra and the musical forms of the concerto, as well as the development of the piano itself and piano performance technique.
Works that changed the world
Eight 90-minute sessions study musical works, from medieval chant to modern film music, which changed Western classical compositional styles and musical taste forever.
Have a question? anikodebreceny@comcast.net