HISTORY

For the adult student, our History program offers weekly classes, each spanning a 12-week quarter. Course topics change every quarter, and full course listings are available online. Current courses are:

Fall Quarter (September 11 - November 14)

The Symphony
Tuesdays, 10:00 am -12:15 pm

Musicologist Priscilla Pawlicki leads a survey of symphonic literature from the 18th century to the present with works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Berlioz, Brahms, Dvorák, Mahler, Shostakovich, Górecki and others. Topics include the origins of the symphony in the Classical period, the expansion of formal devices and orchestral resources in the 19th century and the unique contributions of contemporary composers.

The course will explore works to be performed by the Pasadena Symphony in 2007-2008.

J. S. Bach:  The Solo Keyboard Music
Wednesdays, 7:00 - 9:15 pm

Born into a musical family that showed a remarkable concentration of talent over many generations, J.S. Bach became one of the most significant musical influences in Western music. Recognized as the “the greatest clavier player” of his time, Bach left a wealth of keyboard music that continues to fascinate and engage both performers and listeners to this day: the Toccatas, French and English Suites, two-and three-part Inventions, Partitas, the “Italian” Concerto, two volumes of Preludes and Fugues of the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor, and the Goldberg Variations, one of the greatest keyboard works of all time.

Winter Quarter (January 8 - March 12)  

19th Century Lieder: The Art Songs of Schubert, Schumann,
Brahms and Wolf
Tuesdays, 10:00 am -12:15 pm

The special relationship between music and poetry found new expression in the nineteenth century with the rise of the German art song. Inspired by the poetry of great writers such as Goethe, Müller and Heine as well as the popularity of the rapidly-developing piano, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, and Wolf produced a rich body of lieder that captured the drama of the texts in their vocal settings and in the inventive figurations of the piano. Experience the exquisite nature of this genre in a course designed for general listeners and musicians of all levels.

J. S. Bach:  The Instrumental Music
Wednesdays, 7:00 - 9:15 pm

With their fusion of technical virtuosity and emotional depth, the instrumental works of J.S. Bach represented the culmination of Baroque style and went on to influence successive generations of composers. Explore this exceptional body of works, many of which were written for the Collegium Musicum, an organization of musicians headed by Bach that gave weekly concerts in Leipzig: the Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, Suites for Unaccompanied Cello, Brandenburg Concertos, Orchestra Suites, The Musical Offering, Harpsichord Concertos, Violin Concertos and chamber music for various instrumental combinations.

Spring Quarter (April 2 - June 4)

19th Century Lieder: The Art Songs of Schubert, Schumann,
Brahms and Wolf
Wednesdays, 7:00 - 9:15 pm

The special relationship between music and poetry found new expression in the nineteenth century with the rise of the German art song. Inspired by the poetry of great writers such as Goethe, Müller and Heine as well as the popularity of the rapidly-developing piano, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, and Wolf produced a rich body of lieder that captured the drama of the texts in their vocal settings and in the inventive figurations of the piano. Experience the exquisite nature of this genre in a course designed for general listeners and musicians of all levels.

The History of Keyboard Music
Tuesdays, 10:00 - 12:15 pm

Experience the rich diversity of solo keyboard music from the world’s greatest composers from the late sixteenth century to the present. The major types of keyboard works are examined, including preludes and fugues, partitas, suites and variations from the Baroque, solo sonatas from the Classical period and character pieces (impromptu, intermezzo, rhapsody, nocturne) from the Romantic era, along with the evolution of these genres in contemporary music. Students will increase their understanding of musical styles and genres as well as learn about the evolution of the harpsichord, fortepiano and modern piano.