In 1800 the famous critic ETA Hoffmann said: ‘In earlier times one regarded symphonies merely as introductory pieces  to any larger productions; the opera overtures themselves mostly consisted of several movements and were entitled ‘sinfonia’. Since then our great masters of instrumental music [Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven] have bestowed upon the symphony a tendency such that nowadays it has become an autonomous whole and, at the same time, the highest type of instrmental music.

This course will examine the importance of the symphony in the 19th century and how later 19th century composers dealt with the legacy of Beethoven.

Who’s the course for? Anyone who wants to deepen their appreciation of the music. No technical knowledge required.

Commencing: Tuesday 4 July 2017 (6 weeks: 4/7, 18/7, 8/8, 15/8, 29/8, 12/9).* NOT EVERY WEEK*. Please note the dates.

Cost: £42. Please make cheques payable to Steven Robinson, 40 Beresford Road, Stretford, M32 0PY and indicate whether you wish to attend the morning or afternoon lecture.

COURSE OUTLINE – provisional

1. Symphonic origins (Haydn, Mozart). Beethoven’s ‘heroic style’ (Symphonies 3, 5 and 9)

2. Early Romantic composers: Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann

3. Berlioz ‘Symphonnie Fanatstique’; Liszt ‘Faust’  Symphony

4. Brahms [1 and 4] and Bruckner

5. Tchaikovsky [4 and 6]

6. Mahler ‘Resurrection Symphony’