This course provides an an introduction to classical music through a series of five pivotal moments in its history. These include:
Each session will focus on one composer in a particular time, place and the circumstances around the composition of a major work.
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Thursdays, 7-9pm.
Week 1: Claudio Monteverdi and the birth of opera
Week 2: The Rise of the Symphony: Haydn at Esterhazy and England
Week 3: Beethoven and revolution: Beethoven's Eroica symphony
Week 4: Wagner's Tristan and Isolde: The birth of modern music?
Week 5: Musical Uproar in Paris: Stravinsky and the Rite of Spring
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Optional recommended reading list (pdf).
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £180.00 |
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. See details of our concessionary fees for short courses.
Peter Copley D.Phil, MA, B.mus is a composer, cellist and pianist. He is a visiting lecturer at OUDCE, the University of Sussex and for the Open University, where he has been a Research Associate for the music faculty.
To provide an introduction to 'classical' music through a series of five pivotal 'moments' in its history.
By the end of the course, participants will have been given the opportunity to have gained:
This course is not accredited, so there are no assessments or coursework.
Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.
The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at first year undergraduate level.
No specialist musical knowledge is required for full participation in the course – just an interest in listening to music and finding out more about it.
