Great works: Handel's Messiah

City Lit

Course

In London

£ 39 VAT inc.

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Description

  • Type

    Course

  • Location

    London

  • Start date

    Different dates available

In our time, Messiah is probably Handel’s most famous piece, and most people can sing at least the first couple of lines of the Hallelujah Chorus. But in his day, Handel was known primarily as an opera composer, and only started consistently to write oratorios like Messiah when opera became unprofitable. Given its première in Ireland in 1741, it was a huge success, and the score never went out of print. We look at the circumstances of its composition, the style of its music, and the detail of some of its numbers, to evaluate the reasons for its longevity.

Facilities

Location

Start date

London
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Keeley Street, Covent Garden, WC2B 4BA

Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open

About this course

- Pick out elements of Handel’s musical style in the work
- Identify individual numbers and their effect
- Evaluate the reasons for its continuing popularity.

- Please bring a notebook and pen.
- You may wish to buy some of the music or books recommended in class.

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Subjects

  • Composition
  • Works

Course programme

- The background to the composition of the work and its success
- Handel’s musical style
- Some of the numbers in detail.

You will be taught using a range of techniques including short lectures, slide shows and discussions, practical demonstrations on the piano and guided listening sessions. Courses use a variety of materials including YouTube clips. Links to these are given on handouts so that further exploration may take place between classes if you wish. Occasional short preparation tasks, such as listening to a piece or reading a review, may be set from time to time. Listening and reading outside class is encouraged and, once enrolled, further online resources will be available via Google Classroom.

Additional information

City Lit offers a wide range of music appreciation classes, as well as related courses in history, art history and philosophy. Next term Pauline will be teaching the first of two courses focusing on Musical Analysis: Introduction to Musical Analysis: Module 1 (MD643A) on Monday mornings; this will be followed by Module 2 (MD643B) in the Summer Term. In the Spring term there will be a course focusing on opera, Opera studies 2: Literature into Libretto (MD998), on Monday afternoons. There will be further Opera classes in the Summer Term, and one on the life and music of Cole Porter. To find out more about music appreciation classes and to read some of our recommendations, please see the blog post Music history and appreciation: the 2018/19 programme which lists our full programme of classes listed by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline. If you enjoy learning about music you may like to consider our wide range of instrumental classes including piano classes taught in our digital piano suite. All beginners classes are suitable for those who don’t yet read music notation but are keen to learn. You may also be interested musicianship and practical music classes; please see website or printed course guide for the extensive range of possibilities, or contact the Music department for advice: or (020) 7492 2630. General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Student Centre and Library on Monday to Friday from 12:00 – 19:00. See the course guide for term dates and further details

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Great works: Handel's Messiah

£ 39 VAT inc.

The best Literature courses

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