Assignment for Monday, November 5

This week I am out of town Wednesday and Friday, so you can do the take-home midterm exam. Next week I'm gone November 7, Wednesday. Sorry! For next Monday Nov. 5, I'd like us to analyze Beethoven's Sonata Op. 26 movement 3, "Marcia Funebre" (p. 224 in the Dover edition). It's 3 pages long; I will be looking through the room to make sure you analyzed it. Also for next week, we will be analyzing the Sonata Op. 28, "Pastorale." Please analyze the first two movements for Monday Nov. 5; we'll look at the remaining movements on Friday Nov. 9.

Assignment for Monday, October 29

Please analyze the first movement of Beethoven's piano sonata Op. 26, a set of variations. Analyze Roman numerals and the form of the main theme; this should not be too difficult. Then, for each variation, try to figure how Beethoven is varying his theme. Often it's the figuration; occasionally he will go into the parallel minor key. What do you think is the large-scale form for the entire movement? Where is the climax?

Magic Flute - Act II

Sorry to be posting this late! Here's how I'd like to tackle Act II of The Magic Flute:

M 10/15 Nos. 9-13
W 10/17 Nos. 14-17
F 10/19 Nos. 18-21

This is obviously a huge amount of music; as we did last week, we'll have to gloss over parts. But I'm hoping to spend some quality time on two arias especially on Wednesday: the famous Queen of the Night aria, No. 14, and Pamina's aria, No. 17. Please take a close look at those, both for Roman numerals and form. In the Finale, we'll also focus on the Papageno/Papagena love story, for Friday.

The Magic Flute - Branagh part 2

Kenneth Branagh's version of The Magic Flute is totally blowing my mind! You all should really see this whole thing! And the musical interpretation under James Conlon is terrific.

Assignment for Monday, October 8, 2012

For next Monday, please listen to or view Act 1 of The Magic Flute, and be prepared to discuss the big picture. How many scenes? How many arias? How does each advance the story? Are there any surprises in terms of form, harmony, melody, rhythm, orchestration? Let's try the following plan for focus:

Monday: Nos. 1-4
Wednesday: Nos. 5-7
Friday: No. 8, Finale

Also, please read chapter 9, "Transition," from Caplin's Classical Form; I've scanned it here. Then, using either your previously done period or sentence (or making a new one; I suggest adapting the transition from Mozart's  K. 570, which we analyzed last Friday), continue your nascent sonata by composing a transition which ends on a half cadence in your new key. I would like you to turn in your opening theme and transition next Friday, October 12, at the beginning of class.

The Magic Flute part 1 - Kenneth Branagh

And now for something completely different...

A cinematic version of the opera, directed by the noted film director and actor Kenneth Branagh.

The Magic Flute - Covent Garden

Complete performance (with English subtitles) from the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, London. Colin Davis, conductor. If anyone has a video from The Magic Flute that they particularly like, please post it!

Amadeus movie night

It looks like most of us are free on Saturday, October 13, for a movie night at my house to see Amadeus. This will be fun! Let's start around 7, with a showtime at 7:30. I'll give directions in class.

Beethoven Moonlight Sonata!

Well, it's time that we started having people play the first 16 bars of the Moonlight Sonata! Can I have one or two people do it on Wednesday? If you've already played in class (for Haydn's Creation or Mozart sonatas) you don't have to do this: my goal is just to make sure that everyone in the class has at least a little keyboard experience playing in class.

Assignment for Wednesday, October 3, 2012

We'll analyze the second movement of the Piano Concerto K. 488, continuing from where we've left off on Monday. I would like you to print out this movement - sorry for all the printing! I'll try to have us  work through the 3rd movement online, although you are welcome to print out the third movement if you like.