Mondays 10-12 Noon
March 24 through May 12, 2003
Hopkins Center
Do you go to concerts because:
If so, be warned that this course aims to change your life. The "German Requiem", by Johannes Brahms, is music of immense beauty and consolation. It has been considered one of the greatest large-scale choral compositions almost since its debut in 1868. Many critics write glowing reviews to convince you of the music's value; we will let Brahms do the convincing. There is no need to read music -- tin and golden ears are all welcome. This is an opportunity to familiarize yourself with a great work in order to experience it in great depth.
As with any truly great work, the "German Requiem" rewards close study. In this class, we will learn how this requiem both culminates a musical tradition and breaks new ground for modern choral work We'll consider the sorrowful history behind the radical choices Brahms made. We will uncover some of the musical techniques Brahms uses, his text choices and how he chooses to combine poetry and music. Several different recordings will give us a chance to think about the interaction between composer, conductor and performers. But we will also be intimately following the preparation of the piece for concert by attending a Handel Society rehearsal and enjoying a guest lecture by Melinda O'Neal, conductor of the Handel Society. On the Saturday after our last class, we will attend the Handel Society concert at the Hopkins Center and let the music of Brahms work its magic.
Class is limited to 25 participants.
Patricia Norton has studied and performed a wide variety of music in an equally wide variety of places. Currently, Patricia is the minister of music at the First Congregational Church of Thetford, where she directs both an adult and junior choir and plays organ and piano. This is her fourth ILEAD course, the other three having been literature classes. She is the same age that Brahms was when his Requiem was first performed.
