Upcoming Let’s get Classical with Julian Jacobson

Level: Advanced
Fee: £336

Let’s get Classical

with Julian Jacobson

In a general sense the word “classical” is used for the complete body of Western art music. More strictly it describes the glorious period between about 1750 and 1830, above all the four great composers of the First Viennese school Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, with Brahms as their worthy epilogue. These five giants brought the musical language to a peak of perfection by which all later composers have been judged, and left us an imperishable body of masterpieces.

This “classical” era is marked by the ascendancy of sonata form as the main vehicle for instrumental composition. The beauty of sonata form is that it is both formal enough for structural cohesion and flexible enough for personal expression, both by the composer and by ourselves as performers. While sonatas were the main form used, the classical musical language also allowed for many other forms: rondos, variations, fantasies bagatelles, impromptus, even dances.

What does this classical language demand of us? If we are to convey its full beauty, we need to understand the tonal language, the balance of the primary tonic key with the subsidiary keys (dominant, relative minor or major), and all the drama and excitement of the development section. But we should not think of this as dry, academic analysis but as “living form” and a way of developing colour and emotion in our playing while conveying to the listener a coherent and completely satisfying structure: truly “telling a story”, with a beginning, middle and end.

Bring your classical pieces, whether sonatas or other forms, and be inspired to develop your understanding of the classical language to enhance your interpretations!

A £70 deposit is required to secure your place on this course. The balance of fees, including accommodation, is due 3 weeks before the course start date.