Course Description
Summary
This course is intended for those who want to learn about Bach's music, whether or not they read music or have studied music before. Those who can study the musical and theoretical aspects of Bach's beautiful work will be encouraged to do so, and those who can approach it from historical, philosophical, scientific, or poetic point of view will be encouraged to do that. Accordingly there are no prerequisites. The intention is for everyone to learn more about music.
The structure of the course is roughly chronological, with the first classes providing an overview of Bach’s life and times, and the remaining classes emphasizing important works from his different phases. There are weekly listening assignments and a number of readings. The students are expected to keep a journal in which they record concise responses to them. Over the course of the term they are also expected to prepare brief assigned oral presentations on subjects related to Bach that are not covered in the readings (for example Baroque instruments, or composers who influenced Bach such as Vivaldi, Telemann, or Buxtehude) and to write two six-page papers. In the final classes the students perform or present small original creative projects inspired by Bach.
