Adventures in Classical Music—Music Appreciation for All!

William Neely

Music appreciation for the 21st century. Learn about Classical Music in the Western world from the Middle Ages to the present.

You’ll begin with an introduction to the various elements of music for example, melody, rhythm, pitch and harmony – to give you the basics and vocabulary of music theory to understand and appreciate any type of music. You’ll then explore the History of Classical Music through its various stylistic periods, from medieval chant right up to the current cutting edge. Anyone interested in classical music will benefit from this course.

Music appreciation for the 21st century. Learn about Classical Music in the Western world from the Middle Ages to the present.

Section 1 includes a Short History of Rock and Roll to illustrate the musical elements and musical style.

Learn about early music beginning with monophony and how polyphony developed during the period of the building of the great cathedrals.

What was happening in music during the period in which Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel? A return to some Ancient ideals led to a rediscovery of the science of acoustics, providing a basis for the theory of modern harmony. How the course of music changed as a result of Martin Luther’s break from the Church.

Here we have the origins of opera, as well as a flowering of instrumental music, culminating in the works of Bach, Handel and Vivaldi.

In reaction to the florid complexities of the Baroque, and influenced by the Age of Reason, the Classical period focused on simplicity and elegance, producing such composers as Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.

The Age of Reason was too “reasonable” for the the Romanticists. They valued heightened emotion over elegance. The music of Schumann, Chopin, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Verdi and Puccini were some of its greatest accomplishments.

Formerly referred to as the 20th century period, it now needs to reflect its expansion into the 21st century. Some of the greatest composers of this period have been Stravinsky, Bartok, Schoenberg, Britten, Shostakovich, Ives, Copland and Barber.

I concurrently teach this course at Santa Rosa Junior College (for core Humanities credit). Please take a moment to read a few testimonials by Santa Rosa students about this course, as they testify to my passion and command of the subject matter.

This has been a super-duper class, and I find myself a little sad to find it drawing to a close. I've always enjoyed classical music rather passively; I now feel that I can be an active participant, with a deeper understanding of the musical concepts, the composers themselves, and their historical context. Very cool. ”

I have found these lectures easy to understand and digest into my appreciation and education of classical music.”

I have a doctorate degree, and this has been one of the most thorough and informative classed I have ever taken. It has deepened my understanding and enjoyment of the music I have been listening to for the past 35 years...I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the depth and clarity of presentation of this class. Do you offer any other online classes? I have recommended it to many of my friends…”

Great lectures, this is the first online class I've taken that I felt the instructor was as dedicated to his online students as his in-person ones.

”

..lectures were terrific, especially the use of the history of Rock 'n' Roll to begin a very clear and concise exploration of the basics of music ...Thanks very much for teaching such an excellent course. Sincerely,”

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What's inside

Learning objectives

You will learn the component parts of music—rhythm, pitch, melody, harmony, form, etc.
Then you will apply those concepts to an exploration of the history of classical music.

In the end, you will have developed a greater understanding of music in its various stages of development
You will be able to more accurately identify the works and the composer’s style, as well as place it in the timeline of the history of music.

You will learn the component parts of music—rhythm, pitch, melody, harmony, form, etc.
Then you will apply those concepts to an exploration of the history of classical music.
In the end, you will have developed a greater understanding of music in its various stages of development
You will be able to more accurately identify the works and the composer’s style, as well as place it in the timeline of the history of music.

Syllabus

What is functional harmony and how does it relate to phrase structure?

The Elements of Music: Introduction to Music Appreciation

A preview of what the course will cover, featuring a timeline of musical history.

This is the first of 2 parts of a brief history of Rock and Roll, presented to illustrate how key elements of music contribute to style.

This is the second of 2 parts of a brief history of Rock and Roll, presented to illustrate how key elements of music contribute to style.

A collection of definitions of texture, all non-musical.

The first of the musical elements to be discussed is rhythm. What is rhythm?

The Elements of Music: Rhythm, Meter and Melody

What is meter and how is it related to rhythm? Simple meter is discussed first.

Continuing our discussion of meter: compound meter

Additive meter and miscellaneous rhythmic devices.

What makes up a melody?

How music is notated.

The Elements of Music: Melodic structure; Harmony and Texture

There is a structure to every melody. Here we look at melodic structure in greater depth.

Here we look at how harmony and melodic phrases work together.

What is musical texture?

Please view the short supplementary video on general texture.

The Elements of Music: Timbre

In music, instruments perform the function of the colors employed in painting.

—Honoré de Balzac

The colors of the orchestral instruments

Composer Benjamin Britten wrote a set of orchestral variations on a theme written by Henry Purcell, in which he highlights the instruments of the orchestra.

The Elements of Music: A Summary

How musical structure works.

Musical devices used in constructing a musical form.

5.3 Bringing all the elements together

The various elements of music come together in Ravel’s Bolero.

Antiquity and the Middle Ages

Music from its early and sketchy past

6.2 Early church music

Early Christian chant, often referred to as Gregorian Chant

Dies Irae is one particular plainchant that was frequently used.

The Late Middle-Ages and the transition to the Renaissance

Early musical notation and the church scales

Notre Dame, Paris; world events and innovation in the 12th and 13th centuries

New developments in the late Middle Ages

The 14th Century leading into the Renaissance.

The Renaissance

The acoustic foundation of modern harmony.

Polyphony based on a new consonance

Imitative polyphony was the predominant texture in the Renaissance.

The mass was the cornerstone of Renaissance music—the most common form and, for much of the Renaissance, an essential crucible for experimentation.

The church on trial and eventually, the reformers on trial.

Secular trends and introduction to the Baroque

The madrigal and a new interest in secular music.

The madrigal in a new context; Beginnings of the Baroque.

A comparison between the older and newer styles.

New style features in the early Baroque; Monteverdi’s Orfeo.

The Early Baroque and the Beginnings of Opera

Features of this new form called opera.

Monteverdi’s Orfeo, concluding lecture.

A summary at the style features of the Baroque.

My own musings on what this opera thing is about.

17th century developments and the Rise of Instrumental Music

World events and musical stylistic changes in the 17th century

Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas

Instrumental music begins to free itself from vocal music and creates some new genres of its own.

Characteristics of the Baroque concerto

An in depth look at Bach’s famous concerto

Instrumental Genres; the fugue and the church cantata

in which I walk you through the first movement progressively

a progressive look at Bach’s Little Fugue in G Minor

A look at Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 as an example of the Baroque dance suite

A look at one of Bach’s most famous cantatas, “Wachet Auf” (Cantata No. 140)

In which we conclude our look at one of Bach’s most famous cantatas, “Wachet Auf” (Cantata No. 140) —part 2 of 2.

Opera and Oratorio of the High Baroque; transition to the Classical Period

A cursory look at opera of the high Baroque with a few excerpts from Julius Caesar.

A few excerpts from Handel’s Messiah

some comparisons between the Baroque and Classical styles

An introduction to the Classical Era

Unity and Form in the Classical Era

Before looking at form (structure) in music, we look at form in poetry first, then at painting (in next lecture segment).

Before looking at form (structure) in music, we've just looked at form in poetry; now we look at form in painting (in next lecture segment).

The Music Man (the musical comedy) is used here to illustrate form in music.

a look at some of the forms used in the Classical era

We continue to explore the forms of the Classical era.

Forms of the Classical Period; Introduction to Sonata Form

How the choice of omission affects a work

To get into this common form, we look at the rock band, The Police’s Every breath you take,

then a Mozart’s horn concerto.

To look at this most complex form, we’re going to listen to one of the Mozart’s most popular works.

Sonata Form is looked at in depth in the first movement of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40.

Instrumental Genres

In this lecture, we listen to Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23

A female composer, Francesca LeBrun, and Benjamin Franklin figure in this lecture.

To familiar the student with Mozart's greatest opera

Introduction to Mozart’s opera, The Marriage of Figaro

There appears to be a problem here. YouTube has allowed this video to be embedded here for several years, but now, they have revoked access. Here is the YouTube link that will allow you to access the video while this gets sorted out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQmL6ki6yE8?start=2330&;end=4600

16.5 Marriage of Figaro preparation for Scene ii

Susanna hides Cherubino as she hears the Count approaching and mayhem ensues.

Here, I fill in the plot before you begin Act 2 of Marriage of Figaro.

17.2a Marriage of Figaro, Act II, part 1

When the Countess finds out that the Count is trying to seduce Susanna, Figaro, Susanna and the Countess hatch a plot that doesn't quite work out according to plan. (Part 2)

17.2c Marriage of Figaro, Act II, part 3

First watch Act 2. Then, I invite you to watch the rest of the opera, but it is not required.

Transition Beethoven

Beethoven is considered the pivotal character that bridges the Classical period to the Romantic.

With this lecture, we begin our in-depth examination of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.

In this lecture, we look at Beethoven’s Fifth, movement 1.

In this lecture, we look at Beethoven’s Fifth, movement 2.

Beethoven, Part 2

In this lecture, we look at Beethoven’s Fifth, movement 3.

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Adventures in Classical Music—Music Appreciation for All! with these activities:

Review Basic Music Theory

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Strengthen your understanding of fundamental music concepts. This will provide a solid foundation for appreciating the historical context and stylistic evolution of classical music.

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Review definitions of rhythm, melody, and harmony.
Practice identifying intervals and chords.
Listen to simple melodies and analyze their structure.

Read 'Classical Music for Dummies'

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Gain a foundational understanding of classical music. This book provides a user-friendly overview of the key concepts and historical periods.

View Classical Music For Dummies on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Classical Music For Dummies'.
Read the chapters on music theory and history.
Focus on the sections covering composers in the course.

Read 'The Rest Is Noise' by Alex Ross

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Expand your knowledge of 20th-century classical music. This book offers a broader perspective on the composers and their works.

View Wagnerism on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'The Rest Is Noise'.
Read the chapters relevant to the course syllabus.
Take notes on key composers and musical movements.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Create a Playlist

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Reinforce your knowledge of different composers and styles. Curating a playlist will help you actively engage with the music.

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Choose a theme for your playlist (e.g., Baroque concertos).
Select pieces that fit the theme.
Arrange the pieces in a logical order.
Write a short description of the playlist.

Explore Online Music Scores

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Enhance your ability to follow musical scores. This activity will help you visualize the music and understand its structure.

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Find online scores for pieces covered in the course.
Follow along with the score while listening to the music.
Pay attention to the different instrumental parts.

Create a Composer Timeline

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Solidify your understanding of classical music history. Creating a visual timeline will help you organize composers and their works within their respective periods.

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Research key composers from each period.
Create a timeline with composers and their birth/death dates.
Add representative works for each composer.
Include brief descriptions of their style.

Analyze Musical Forms

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Deepen your understanding of musical structure. This project will involve analyzing the form of several classical pieces.

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Select three classical pieces from different periods.
Identify the form of each piece (e.g., sonata form, rondo).
Create a diagram illustrating the form of each piece.
Write a short analysis of each piece's form.

Career center

Learners who complete Adventures in Classical Music—Music Appreciation for All! will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Adventures in Classical Music—Music Appreciation for All!.

Classical Music For Dummies

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Offers a broad overview of classical music history, composers, and key works. It's written in an engaging and easy-to-understand style, making it perfect for beginners. It complements the course by providing historical context and introducing major figures and musical periods, enhancing the listener's appreciation and understanding of classical music.

Classical Music For Dummies

Paperback

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Classical Music For Dummies

Kindle Edition

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Wagnerism

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Provides a comprehensive overview of 20th-century classical music. It explores the historical, social, and cultural contexts that shaped the music of this era. Reading this book will greatly enhance your understanding and appreciation of the composers and works covered in the later sections of the course. It is valuable as additional reading to provide depth to the course.

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