Exploring Music Course: Chamber Music

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Appreciate and learn about music the smart way with Music courses at the University of Sydney.

Chamber music is one of the most intimate forms of classical music. It combines the wealth and richness of classical music structures with the intimacy of being able to see each performer, and hear what each one is playing.

This music appreciation course explores the structures and development of chamber music and the great composers who contributed to it including Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert. We will listen to some of the great pieces of chamber music, and explore what makes them wonderful.

Outcomes

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

• list some great composers of chamber music
• list some specific examples of chamber music
• describe some of the features of chamber music.

Content

Topics we will explore:

• What is chamber music?
• What instruments play chamber music?
• The structures of chamber music
• The rise of chamber music
• Haydn: Father of the String Quartet
• Chamber music of the Classical period
• Beethoven’s chamber music
• The chamber music of Schubert
• Chamber music in the Romantic period
• Chamber music in the Twentieth Century
• Sonata Form
• Theme and Variations
• Rondo Form.

Music we will listen to:

• Schubert: “The Trout” Piano Quintet
• Haydn: String Quartet op.76 No.3 "Emperor"
• Haydn: String Quartet op. 33 no. 2, "The Joke"
• Bach: Brandenburg Concertos
• Mozart: Clarinet Quintet
• Mozart: String Quintet in E flat major K. 614
• Mozart and Beethoven: Violin Sonatas
• Beethoven: Piano Trio op. 70, "Ghost"
• Beethoven: The late string quartets
• Schumann: Piano Quintet
• Brahms: Clarinet Quintet, Piano Quartet Op. 60
• Chopin: Cello Sonata in G Minor, op. 65
• Ravel: String Quartet in F
• Bartók: String Quartet Nos. 4 and 5.

Intended Audience

Designed for fans of classical music, beginners and experienced listeners alike. No prior musical knowledge is required.

Delivery Style

Lecture/seminar

Materials

Handouts are provided on class.