Explore the evolution of German opera, focusing on key composers and their innovative use of music to convey drama and emotion.
Explore the evolution of German opera, focusing on key composers and their innovative use of music to convey drama and emotion.
This comprehensive course offers an in-depth introduction to German opera, tracing its evolution and exploring how music conveys drama throughout the genre. The curriculum covers major composers and works, from Mozart and Beethoven to Wagner and Strauss, emphasizing the unique characteristics of German operatic style. Students will gain a deep understanding of Wagner's use of leitmotifs, the importance of the orchestra in German opera, and the development of musical gestures across different composers. The course is structured in four modules, each focusing on specific periods and composers, providing a chronological journey through German operatic history. Through video lectures, quizzes, and discussions, learners will develop analytical skills to appreciate the intricate relationship between music and drama in German opera.
Instructors:
English
What you'll learn
Understand how Wagner uses motives to convey drama in "Das Rheingold"
Recognize the importance of the orchestra in German opera
Analyze the contributions of Mozart, Beethoven, and Weber to German opera
Explore Wagner's innovative style and its impact on opera
Examine Richard Strauss's development as a composer and his operatic style
Understand how music unfolds the drama in 20th-century German opera
Skills you'll gain
This course includes:
3.7 Hours PreRecorded video
11 assignments
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FullTime access
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There are 4 modules in this course
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to German opera, exploring its evolution and the unique ways composers use music to convey drama. It covers four main areas: Wagner's "Das Rheingold" and the use of leitmotifs, the contributions of Mozart, Beethoven, and Weber, Wagner's innovations and style, and 20th-century German opera focusing on Richard Strauss. The course emphasizes the importance of the orchestra in German opera and how musical gestures developed across different composers. Through various examples and analyses, students will gain a deep understanding of how German opera uniquely combines music and drama.
Das Rheingold
Module 1 · 7 Hours to complete
Mozart, Beethoven, Weber
Module 2 · 3 Hours to complete
Wagner
Module 3 · 2 Hours to complete
Twentieth-century German opera
Module 4 · 2 Hours to complete
Fee Structure
Payment options
Financial Aid
Instructor
Jacob H. Strauss 1922 Professor of Music
Steve Swayne is a professor specializing in art music from 1700 to the present, opera, American musical theater, and more. He has received fellowships from the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. An accomplished author, he has published articles in various music journals and written two books, including Orpheus in Manhattan, which won the 2012 ASCAP Nicolas Slonimsky Award. Currently, he is working on projects related to chamber musicals, music and neuroscience, and American composer David Diamond. A recipient of the Professor John Rassias Faculty Award, he has taught at several institutions and served as president of the American Musicological Society. Swayne is also an accomplished concert pianist.
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