Love, in its many forms, lies at the core of much of the world’s greatest music – as a subject in its own right, but more importantly, as a source of inspiration. In this six-week course, we look at a range of composers – from Beethoven and Berlioz through to Brahms and Britten – where desire, admiration or a vision of a beloved unlocked their creativity and helped give it voice. While the attention these muses received was not without its difficulties, without them, some of the great masterpieces of all time would never have been written. We look at these hidden figures and pay tribute to the contribution and the sacrifices they made.
Course aim
This course explores how the loved ones of the great composers inspired some of the world's greatest music. It asseses the personalities and works of composers from Beethoven to Britten, and looks at the impacts on he Muses themselves. . .
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:
- Identify key works by the composers included in the course
- Identify key stages in the emotional lives of the composers included
- Identify the key muses of the great composers, and name, where appropriate, some of their own artistic achievements
- Explain some of the key stages in the development of the Romantic period in music
What else do I need to know?
Students don't need to bring anything other than an open mind and an interest in music. A reading and listening list will be provided, and some advance listening before each session may be required
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