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Great Choral Masterpieces
Course Times & Enrolment
This course is currently unavailable.
Course Summary
This course will be of interest to general music lovers who would like to increase their appreciation of the development of choral music from the Baroque to the present day. Encompassing a diverse range of composers, the course considers a series of set works representative of the cultural aesthetics of their times as well as critical evaluation of the changing social function of choirs and the relevance of choral music in the present day.
Course Details
Pre-requisites for enrolment
No previous knowledge is required. Active participation in class through asking or responding to questions will ensure you get the most out of this course.
Special Information
Handouts and summaries of classes will be provided, including recommended recordings and indicative works to listen to.
Content of Course
1
What in turn is the difference between group singing and choral singing?
What might influence the use of a choir in music for the church, music for the stage, music for video games/media and so forth?
What are the social expectations of choirs in wider culture?
Orff - O Fortuna from Carmina Burana
Rolling Stones - You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Sam Smith - Stay with Me
2
Perotin - Viderunt Omnes
Strozzi (madrigal) Gli amanti falliti
Tallis (motet) – Spem in Alium
Medieval church music & choral music in convents - how vocal music is used as an expression of faith, intimacy and sacredness. Madrigals and consort singing.
3
Development of harmony, expansions of church music, social advancements & development of Lutheranism. How impactful was Bach and why is his music still considered so important today?
4
The rise of the oratorio, its structures and how Handel wrote this epic work in 30 days.
5
Development from Baroque into Classical, changing structures of orchestras and models of funding composers. Alleged mystique of Mozart and the creation of his Requiem Mass?
6
The choral symphony - rise of larger choruses based on Enlightenment ideals and force of choruses as a place for social advancement.
7
The rise of the Victorian British oratorio - reference to Parry, Elgar & others.
8
Redressing the balance - why women composers are not as well promoted in choral music circles and what is being done to change this?
9
John Adams - Harmonium (Wild Nights)
The divergence of vocal ensemble and mass choirs and the impact on composition (and vice versa)
American choral composition & extended vocal technique.
10
Christopher Tin - Baba Yetu (Civilization)
Hildur Guðnadóttir - Vichnaya Pamyat (Chernobyl)
Modern consumption of choral music is often closely associated with mass media - why is this and what effects may this achieve?
What future directions could choral music/vocal performance explore?
Teaching method(s)
Lecture, listening and discussion.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Describe an historical outline of choral music’s role in Western classical/art music from the Medieval period to the present day
- Place a piece of choral music in the context of its historical period and identify representative stylistic characteristics
- Discuss choral music and its histories in terms of their wider cultural contexts.
Sources
Core Readings
Optional Reading:
Chester L. Alwes, A History of Western Choral Music, New York: Oxford University Press (2015-16), 2 volumes. Given the expense, please note that this is absolutely optional and no student will be disadvantaged by not reading this book!
Class Handouts
Handouts and summaries of classes will be provided, including recommended recordings and indicative works to listen to.
Queries
If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.
Student support
If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.