General Knowledge Workshops: Music History
1 day, 9:15 am - 4:00 pm
In this workshop we explore the history of western music, focussing on the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern periods, through to the present day. Learn how music relates to the art, social, and historical events of its time.
For high school students, aged 12 to 18.
Course Outline
Session 1: The Baroque Period
- Discussion: changing fashions
- Major historical events of the Baroque period
- Social aspects of the Baroque Period
- The art of the Baroque period (and how it parallels the music)
- Composers of the Baroque period
- The Baroque style: Musical characteristics
- Listening tips
- Summing up
Session 2: The Classical Period
- Major historical events of the Classical period
- Social aspects of the Classical period
- The art of the Classical period (and how it parallels the music)
- Composers of the Classical period
- The Classical style: Musical characteristics
- Listening tips
- Summing up
Session 3: The Romantic Period
- Discussion: music as self-expression
- Major historical events of the Romantic period
- Social aspects of the Romantic Period
- The art of the Romantic period (and how it parallels the music)
- Composers of the Romantic period
- The Romantic style: Musical characteristics
- Listening tips
- Summing up
Session 4: Impressionism and the Twentieth Century
- The Post-Romantic Period and Impressionism
- Late or Post-Romanticism: Musical characteristics
- The Impressionist style
- The Twentieth Century
- Major historical events of the Twentieth Century
- Social aspects of the Twentieth Century
- The art of the Twentieth Century and its relationship to music
- Composers of the Twentieth Century
- The Twentieth Century: musical trends
- Listening tips
- Summing up