EVDOL 34 - Compositional Through Lines From Beethoven to Bill Monroe

George Meyer
Explore the surprising connections between classical and nonclassical music in this innovative course designed to challenge conventional perceptions and deepen your understanding of musical composition. While the worlds of Beethoven’s symphonies and Bill Monroe’s bluegrass tunes may seem worlds apart, they share a common language of the same 12 notes used to create both “masterpieces” and “tunes.”

In this course, we’ll equip you with a practical toolkit to discern and appreciate the compositional techniques underlying seemingly disparate musical genres. Dive into an engaging comparison of piano sonatas by Beethoven with fiddle tunes by Monroe and Sam Bush, discovering the shared musical foundations and distinctive traits that define each style.

Special attention will be given to modern hybrids that blend classical and nonclassical elements, featuring works by innovators like Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile, and their collaborative projects such as the Goat Rodeo Sessions with Stuart Duncan and Yo-Yo Ma. Through a series of interactive lectures, listening sessions, and discussions, this course will open your ears to the nuanced interplay between different musical traditions and reveal the rich, continuous spectrum of music.

Join us on a captivating journey that transcends musical boundaries, offering a fresh perspective on what unites various musical forms and how they can be understood in relation to one another. Whether you’re a classical purist, a folk enthusiast, or somewhere in between, this course will enrich your musical experience and challenge the way you listen to and appreciate music.

5 weeks

Mondays 5:30–7pm ET

Feb 3,10, 24

March 10, 17

In Person Only

$255