Mozart and Beethoven: Their Lives and Works

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

By the age of 15 Mozart had not only written several operas as well as more than a dozen symphonies, he had travelled all over Europe giving concerts. Aged 30, and while his creative powers were at their height, he began to fall out of fashion. At the time of his early death, only a few years later, he was having to struggle to make ends meet.
As a young man, Beethoven was an enfant terrible who challenged convention and whose artistic vision was to change the very nature of Western music. Though his personal life was one of suffering and isolation, in time he became known as the greatest living composer in all Europe.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the life and works of two of western music’s greatest composers. Non-technical and informal. Lots of discussion and CD excerpts.

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

none

Special Information

Content of Course

1. Mozart as an infant prodigy and his struggles in Salzburg.
2. Mozart’s success in Vienna.
3. Mozart’s difficult final years.
4. Beethoven’s childhood and youthful success.
5. Beethoven’s triumph and tragedy.
6. Beethoven’s late period.

Teaching method(s)

Learning outcomes

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

Discuss the importance of the work of Mozart and Beethoven;
Analyse the various forms of their music;
Show an understanding of their music in its social and historic context.

Sources

Core Readings

Web Sources

Class Handouts

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.