Baroque Music in the New World
Enjoy a day exploring the rich repertoire and fascinating lives of the intrepid first Spanish composers and musicians who travelled to South America in the early colonial period of the 16th – 17th centuries. The course includes music inspired by the native peoples, as well as the first New World opera by Tomás de Torrejón y Velasco.
A Selected Discography:
Baroque Music of Latin America. Camerata de Caracas
Mexican Polyphony (Works By Franco/ De Padilla/ Capillas)
Villancicos y Danzas Criollas – Hesperion XXI, Jordi Savall, cond.
Torrejón y Velasco: La Púrpura De La Rosa – Opera In One Act/Garrido
Baroque Music of Iberia
Explore the rich sacred and secular musical heritage of 17th & 18th century Spain and Portugal.
Discovering the Madrigal
The Madrigal appeared in Italy around 1520 and in England some 70 years later and lasted well into the 17th century as the quintessential form of courtly composition for several voices. During this course we will discover the richness of this most intricate musical form, while listening to some of the greatest music from the Renaissance and the Elizabethan court.
The German ‘art song’
From the gallant style of CPE Bach, via Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, the greatest song cycles of Schubert, Schumann and Brahms, to the modernistic outlook of Alban Berg and Schoenberg, we shall examine the development of the genre and listen to some of its best examples.
Handel Oratorios
After the disastrous Italian Opera enterprise in London, Handel turned to a drama in music in the English language. In these oratorios and serenades, he displayed his genius in vocal writing by creating some of the best arias and choruses of the baroque era. We explore some of these wonderful pieces, both the secular (Semele, Hercules, Acis & Galatea, etc.) and the sacred (Esther, Messiah and Theodora, among others).
Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers
During this course we explore Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine, arguably the most ambitious work of religious music before Bach. The term “Vespers” (evening prayers) is taken from the Hours of the Divine Office, a set of daily prayers of the Catholic Church, which have remained structurally unchanged for 1500 years. This 90-minute masterpiece includes soloists, chorus, and orchestra and comprises both liturgical and extra-liturgical elements.
Moors & Christians: Musical Friends or Foes?
Discover the fascinating influence bequeathed to Spanish music by centuries of Arab occupation.
Music and Spectacle at Versailles
Music for Easter
The oratorio is a setting of religious words for solo singers, chorus and orchestra. Such works were first composed in Rome about 1600 (at the same time the first operas were written). During this course we explore among others: the Gospel narration of Carissimi, and the Lutheran musical setting of the Passion by Telemann and JS Bach, as well as Part 3 of Handel’s Messiah.
Music in Tudor East Anglia
With composers Thomas Morley, Orlando Gibbons, John Wilbye, William Inglot and Osbert Parsley (the last two buried in Norwich Cathedral) all born in East Anglia, there is a great deal of Renaissance repertoire to explore during this day course. Learn about the life and work of these musicians and listen to some of the greatest music from the court of Queen Elizabeth I.
A Selected Discography:
Byrd ~ Mass for Five Voices (Darlington, Cccc)
16th Century Music for Viols
Renaissance – Music for Inner Peace. The Sixteen
Armonia di Flauti – Consort Collection, Vol.1
English Madrigals. The Tallis Scholars
Dowland: Second Booke of Songs. The Consort of Musicke
The Dark is my Delight. Evelyn Tubb & Michael Fields
Music in Venice
“Music pervades the soul of Venice as surely as the waters of the surrounding Lagoon penetrate to the heart of the city” [John Julius Norwich]. During this course we explore five centuries of music created at and inspired by the Most Serene Republic, ranging from the Gabrielis and Monteverdi to Vivaldi, Rossini and Reynaldo Hahn.
A Selected Discography
Il cantar Moderno Venetian and Neapolitan songs /Ensemble Daedalus
The Glory Of Venice : Music by Willaert, A Gabrieli, Merulo and Rore/Concordia
Venice Preserv’d/Hogwood
Orlande de Lassus Mass ‘Tout les Regretz’ and Motets
Gabrieli: Music for San Rocco (1608) /Gabrieli Consort & Players · McCreesh
A New Venetian Coronation, 1595. Gabrieli Consort & Players
Monteverdi: Soprano Duets & Solos /Kirkby, Tubb 
Monteverdi: Eighth Book of Madrigals Vol 1 /Concerto Italiano, Alessandrinil
Monteverdi: Eighth Book of Madrigals Vol 2 /Concerto Italiano, Alessandrini
Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine /Concerto Italiano, Alessandrini
Monteverdi: L’Incoronazione di Poppea (Concerto Vocale/Rene Jacobs)
Venezia 1625 – The Golden Age of Ventian Instrumental Music (Maurice Steger and Ensemble)
Music for a While, Mélodies Baroques, Anne Sofie von Otter
A Portrait of Barbara Strozzi. Catherine Bott, soprano
Concerto Delle Donne, Madrigalli. Consort of Musicke
Vivaldi: Operas
Vivaldi – Arie d’Opera
Vivaldi: Arie per tenore. Topi Lehtipuu, tenor
Lamenti. Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano
Vivaldi – Gloria; Magnificat. Concerto Italiano
Vivaldi: Salve Regina/Il Seminario Musicale. Lesne, cond.
Folksongs. Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano
The Music of Hildegard von Bingen
Music of the Spanish Baroque
Music had a great importance in Spanish theatre during the Golden Age, as did church music during the entire baroque era. During this course we explore the richness of the Spanish repertoire; from traditional Castilian songs in the comedias of Lope de Vega, to the large sacred choral works and the emergence of the zarzuela.
Music & Religion: A History of Sacred Music
Sacred music dominated the world of composers and performers from the Middle Ages and has been responsible for some of the greatest masterpieces ever since. If you like Gregorian Chant, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem or Verdi’s Requiem and want to enjoy them even more, this course has you in mind! We explore the different musical forms that dominate sacred music, as well as the lives and works of some of the greatest composers in Europe and the New World, while enjoying plenty of fabulous musical examples.
A Selected Discography:
Ancient Greek Music. Atrium Musicae
Music of the Middle Ages ~ The Early Music Consort, David Munrow
Chants de l’Église Milanaise ~ Ensemble Organum · Pérès
Musique et poésie à Saint-Gall ~ Ensemble Gilles Binchois · Vellard
Chant Mozarabe ~ Ensemble Organum
Byzantine Hymns of the First Female Composer
Hildegard von Bingen: O Jerusalem
Hildegard of Bingen: A feather on the breath of God
Virgine bella ~ Andrés Hernández-Salazar, tenor (please see Recordings page above)
Compostela. Codex Calixtinus ~ Ensemble Organum · Pérès
Leonin. Sacred Music From 12th-Century Paris
Perotin ~ The Hilliard Ensemble
Bach: Mass in B minor ~ Andrew Parrot, cond.
Alfonso X El Sabio: Cantigas De Santa Maria. Hesperion XX
Llibre Vermell de Montserrat. Hesperion XX
Gabrieli: Music for San Rocco. Gabrieli Consort & Players · McCreesh
Vivaldi: Gloria/Magnificat. Concerto Italiano. Rinaldo Alessandrini
Bach, J.S.: Magnificat; Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, Cantata BWV51
Johanne Ciconia: Vocal Works/Alla Francesca & Alta
Renaissance – Music For Inner Peace/The Sixteen
Twenty Favourite Hyms/The Guildford Cathedral Choir
Lassus: Mass ‘Tout les Regretz’ & Motets/Choir of New College Oxford
Portrait: Philippe Herreweghe
Bach: Motets /La Chapelle Royale · Herreweghe
Rameau: Les Grands Motets
Tallis: Spem in Alium /The Tallis Scholars · Phillips
Poulenc: Mass In G & Motets/RIAS-Kammerchor. Creed, cond.
Bruckner: Mass in E Minor & Motets/La Chapelle Royal. Herreweghe
Century Of Ars Nova
Taverner: Missa Mater Christi Sanctissima
Byrd: Mass for Five Voices/Christ Church Cathedral Choir
Bach: Arias & Choruses/John Eliot Gardiner, cond.
Stravinsky/Gesualdo: Choral Works
Messa Per Rossini (Rilling)/ Verdi, etc.
Carissimi: Jonas; Jephte /Monteverdi Choir · Gardiner
Schütz: Weinachtshistorie / Oxford Camerata. Summerly, cond.
A Scarlatti : La Santissima Trinita / Europa Galante. Biondi, cond.
Bach: St John Passion / Monteverdi Choir. Gardiner, cond.
Mark Padmore – As steals the morn (Handel arias & scenes for tenor)
Magdalena Kozena, mezzo. ‘Ah! mio cor’ Handel: Arias
Handel: Messiah. Trevor Pinnock, cond.
Monteverdi Madrigale Erotici e Spirituale
Couperin – Leçons de ténèbres / Gens, mezzo & Piau, sop.
Villancicos y Danzas Criollas – De La Antigua al Nuevo Mundo
Schoenberg – Moses und Aron
American Songs. Barbara Bonney, sop & Andre Previn, piano.
The Songs of Schubert
A day exploring the history and character of the ‘art songs’ of Franz Schubert. Viennese composer of more than six hundred songs as well as much orchestral and chamber music: “the product of my genius and my misery, and that which I have written in my greatest distress, is that which the world seems to like best.”
Vauxhall Gardens: Music & Entertainment
During the 18th century, the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens represented the height of fashion, and of vice, for the inhabitants of London. The great composers of the day, Handel, Arne, Abel and Boyce, all reigned supreme in the evenings of song and dance at this most chic of leisure destinations in the capital. During this course, we explore some of this enchanting music.
A Selected Bibliography:
Life in Georgian Britain (Pitkin guides). Michael St John Parker
The English Pleasure Garden: 1660-1860. Sarah Jane Downing
A Selected Discography:
Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks. Neville Marriner, cond.
A Vauxhall Gardens Entertainment. Emma Kirkby & London Baroque
Handel & Arne: Arias. Emma Kirkby & The Academy of Ancient Music
Gay/Pepusch: The Beggar’s Opera. Jeremy Barlow, cond.
Handel – Opera Arias & Cantatas. María Bayo, sop.
Mark Padmore – As steals the morn (Handel arias & scenes for tenor)
The Art of the Prima Donna: Joan Sutherland
The Three Baroque Tenors. Ian Bostridge, tenor
Dr Arne at Vauxhall Gardens. Emma Kirkby/Richard Morton
Arne: Alfred. Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra · McGegan
The Mad Lover. Evelyn Tubb, sop. & Frances Kelly, harp
Boyce: Solomon, A Serenata · The Parley of Instruments · Goodman
Women Composers: the Famous and the Infamous
Explore the lives and works of some of the most fascinating women composers, starting with the Byzantine Kassia of Constantinople, and virtuous 12th-century German Abbess Hildegard of Bingen, and including 17th-century Venetian courtesan Barbara Strozzi and Florentine singer Francesca Caccini. We also take a look at some of the talented wives and sisters of famous composers, such as Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn.
The A-Z of Musical Forms
During this course we concentrate on some of the most important forms in music. In each class we discuss and listen to examples of a particular musical form, ranging from Gregorian chant to the madrigal, the motet, the sonata, the concerto, the symphony, binary & ternary forms, the cantata, the opera seria and the opera buffa.
A Selected Bibliography:
Form in Music by Stewart MacPherson
The Classical Style: Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart ~ by Charles Rosen
The Oxford Junior Companion to Music
The Elements of Music: Melody, Rhythm and Harmony
A Selected Discography:
Cruel Amaryllis ~ Andrés Hernández-Salazar, tenor (please see Recordings page at top)
Vivaldi: Operas
Mozart: Horn Concertos/Concert Arias
Lambert: Airs de Cour
Music for a While ~ Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo
Coloratura Spectacular ~ Sumi Jo, Joan Sutherland & Marilyn Horne
Monteverdi: Il Combattimento ~ Les Arts Florissants
Janet Baker ~ Bach, Purcell, Ravel
Schubert: Trout Quintet
Virgine bella ~ Andrés Hernández-Salazar, tenor (please see Recordings page at top)
Alfonso X El Sabio: Cantigas De Santa Maria ~ Hesperion XX
Mozart & Haydn: Songs and Canzonettas ~ Anne Sofie von Otter
Bach: Mass in B minor ~ Andrew Parrot, cond.
Morimur. J S Bach ~ The Hilliard Ensemble
Vivaldi ~ Il Seminario Musicale. Gerard Lesne, cond.
Bach: The Musical Offering BWV 1079 /Ensemble Sonnerie
Bach: Arias & Choruses. Gardiner, cond.
Bach: Magnificat BWV243 / Kantate Bw51. Gardiner, cond.
Handel: Messiah. Pinnock, cond.
Tranquility – Holy Week Liturgy
Chants de l’Église Milanaise/Ensemble Organum · Pérès
Musique et poésie à Saint-Gall/Ensemble Gilles Binchois · Vellard
Chant Mozarabe – Mozarabic Chant: Toledo Cathedral
Venice Preserv’d/The Academy of Ancient Music. Hogwood
Anne Sofie Von Otter Sings Baroque Arias
Concerto Delle Donne/Consort of Musicke
English Madrigals/The Tallis Scholars. Phillips
Monteverdi: Madrigale Erotici e Spirituale/The Consort of Musicke
Monteverdi: Eighth Book of Madrigals, Vol 1 /Concerto Italiano 
Villancicos y Danzas Criollas – Hesperion XXI, Jordi Savall
Byrd: Mass for Five Voices/Christ Church Cathedral Choir
Renaissance – Music For Inner Peace/The Sixteen
Portrait. Philippe Herreweghe
Poulenc: Mass In G & Motets/RIAS-Kammerchor. Marcus Creed, cond.
Monteverdi: L’Orfeo
The Best Opera Album In The World Ever
Ravel: L’enfant et les sortilèges. Rattle, cond.
Carissimi: Judicum Extremum; Jonas; Jephte /Gardiner, cond.
Bach: St John Passion /Gardiner, cond.
Scarlatti: Sonatas – Pinnock
CPE Bach: Instrumental Chamber Music
Alfred Brendel – Collection Vol. 3 Beethoven
Armonia di Flauti – Consort Collection, Vol.1
Habanera: Elina Garanca, mezzo
The Building Blocks of Music
All music is constructed with the same elements: rhythm, pulse, tempo, pitch, melody, harmony, texture, timbre, and dynamics. The difference between one composition and another is in the ways in which composers and performers use these raw materials. During this course we explore the basic elements of musical language.
A Selected Bibliography
The Elements of Music: Melody, Rhythm and Harmony (Wooden Books Gift Book)
The Concise Encyclopædia of Music and Musicians
The Concise Encyclopaedia of Music and Musicians (Paperback)
Introducing Music (Penguin music)
Essential Dictionary of Music Notation
An ABC of Music (Oxford Paperback Reference), Imogen Holst
Music (Eyewitness Guides)
