This phenomenal repertoire, which spans more than 300 years of Western music, includes many of classical music's most beloved masterpieces. Treasures of this tradition include:
•The Baroque-era genius of Johann Sebastian Bach, whose preludes and fugues, toccatas, and suites set the standard for keyboard writing.
•Sonatas, variations, and related piano works by Classical giants Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, and the transitional figure of Franz Schubert.
•Romantic masterworks ranging from Frederic Chopin's mazurkas, nocturnes, and ballades and Robert Schumann's multi-form piano works to Johannes Brahms's variations and glorious small-scale pieces, and Franz Liszt's virtuosic Hungarian Rhapsodies.
•At the turn of the 20th century, the mystical piano works of Aleksandr Scriabin, and the impressionistic textures of Claude Debussy's and Maurice Ravel's keyboard writing.
•A dazzling spectrum of 20th- and 21st-century piano music, pioneering new forms and new tonalities, from Arnold Schoenberg, Sergei Prokofiev, and Charles Ives to George Crumb, Florence Price, and George Walker, all of whom extended the expressive voice of the piano.
These works and many more form the piano literature that continues to move and enchant us; it comprises one of the most powerful legacies in Western art.
In Great Piano Works Explained, you'll dig deeply into this magnificent tradition, in a far-reaching exploration of the art of listening, seen from the bench of a pianist. In these 24 musically rich lectures, taught with passion and deep insight by Professor Catherine Kautsky of Lawrence University, you'll encounter the composers named above and more, finding your way to the heart of their extraordinary music for the piano.
Experience the Sublime Richness of the Piano Repertoire
In this illuminating course, Professor Kautsky coaches you in hearing and understanding the great works for the piano, with a special feature: In addition to her esteemed teaching, she is a celebrated pianist, and she demonstrates the works under discussion in real-time, at the keyboard, illustrating both excerpts and entire works through her own expressive and thoughtful playing.
With her inspired guidance, you'll highlight key works of each composer, and unpack their structure, the musical materials that drive them, and the specific features that affect listeners so strongly, giving you a clear grounding in how to approach and hear this great music.
