Course II

Western Classical Music: c. 1520 - 1700

Course Description: 

Explore the two centuries of western classical music that preceded the Late Baroque Era of George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach in the early 18th century.  The 16th century is traditionally seen as the final century of the Renaissance and the 17th as the first century of the Baroque Era. 

Learn about how the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation affected the course of religious music in the 16th century and about new secular musical forms like the madrigal.  Understand the rise and developments of instrumental music as the violin and orchestra music gained prominence between 1550 and 1700.  Explore the first century of opera starting with Claudio Monteverdi's 1607 masterpiece l'Orfeo, followed by several more important operas of the 17th century.  



Day 1  -  Late Renaissance Music, c. 1520 - 1620

Day 2  -  The Development of Instrumental, c. 1560 - 1660

Day 3  -  The Advent of Opera, 1598 - 1688