Art, music, mythology and history are four corners all the same square. Frequently the same historical events appear in artworks and musical pieces. Similarly mythological stories inspire artists and musicians. The course will give you an opportunity to enjoy stories and the art and music. The lectures will have two parallel strands: 1) An historical narrative (with accompanying music) under headings which include: Symbols and Allegories: Harmonia Mundi, Good Government, The Ages of Man, Love, Marital Harmony, The Realm of Venus, The Five Senses, Lust, Vanitas, The Mythological Heritage, Religious Subjects 2) A wide range of 20th century musicians and associated art works. The music will include orchestral, jazz. folk and popular.
Course aim
You will follow the journey of music in Western Europe from ancient to modern times, and its representation in art. The lectures will have two parallel strands: an historical narrative with accompanying music and music & art from the 20th century.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Speak more confidently about the history of musical themes in paintings
- Understand more fully the mythological tales with musical themes and that feature so widely in art works
- Describe in broad outlines the developments of western orchestral and popular music
- Understand more fully the how musical symbols in paintings can be interpreted
What else do I need to know?
The course is self contained and there is no assumption that you already have knowledge of the topics and periods covered. However, it is recommended that you do preliminary reading on any of the topics and periods mentioned in the course description or Learning Outcomes.
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