Course Description

Instructor: Sally Kann, BA
We tend to think that German composers, notably Austrian ones, completely dominated classical music from J.S. Bach to Mahler. In fact, from the 17th century to the 20th, most of the really bold musical ideas came from the French: complex experiments in harmony, radical departures in form and structure, strange obsessions with color and texture, and deeply emotional melodic character. We will explore the Baroque Period to Les Impressionists and beyond, listening to choral and symphonic masterworks by Lully, Berlioz, Saint-Saens, Faure, Debussy, Ravel, Poulenc. Mr. Ken Meltzer will give a special lecture on French Grand Opera.