Early in the 20th century, composers of the Second Viennese School believed that tonality and Romanticism in Western music had gone as far as it could go, and their answer was "atonality," music written to avoid any formal relation to a central key. But, have you noticed? Contemporary music, both classical and pop, is still almost entirely tonal. This resurgence of tonality suggests that tonality is an unavoidable force of nature; that we seek harmonic structure just as we seek shelter from a storm. Sessions will be dedicated to listening to how composers from Beethoven to Richard Strauss and beyond stretched tonal structure to its limit, while always seeking resolution, and why 21st-century composer Michael Torke's music has been called "some of the most optimistic, joyful, and thoroughly uplifting music to appear in recent years" (Gramophone).
912.541.01 Homewood Campus $99 (4 sessions) Wednesdays, Nov. 11 to Dec. 9, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
JHU full-time faculty/staff are eligible for 80% tuition remission. Spouse/same-sex domestic partners are eligible for 50%. You will be unable to register online and receive the discount. Contact 410-516-8516 for more details.
