Print this page Music and its Cultural Environment: the Renaissance, Baroque and Modern Eras

Music is always composed for and performed within a specific environment. This course explores the fruitful relationship between an outstanding selection of works and their original and subsequent cultural milieus. Works range from Tudor and Jacobean England - the sacred music of Taverner and the lute songs of Campion – to several groups of Handel’s works composed in Italy and London, moving to some of Vaughan Williams’ quintessentially English music from the early to mid-20th century – the Lark Ascending, Mass in G minor, Shakespeare Songs – and conclude with works from late 19th to mid-20th century France by Saint-Saëns, Ravel and Duruflé.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

COURSE OUTLINE

• John Taverner – his magnificent sacred music from the early Tudor period interleaved with the lute songs of the outstanding poet and composer Thomas Campion
• Handel in Italy – cantatas and instrumental music, Handel in London – chamber music and music for royal occasions and the theatre
• Early to mid-20th century England: Vaughan Williams – the Lark ascending, the Mass in G minor, anthems, and the Shakespeare Songs
• France from the late 19th to the mid-20th century: Violin Sonatas by Saint-Saëns and Ravel, some of the choral music of Maurice Duruflé.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should able to:

1. Describe the major changes in musical style between the Tudor era and the mid-20th century
2. Appreciate the main differences between sacred and secular, instrumental and vocal music during these periods
3. Discuss some of the major cultural influences of each period on the creation of this repertoire
4. Take note of the different environments in which these works were performed, from their premiers to their subsequent performance history