Music Courses in Detail

MUS 01: The American Musical Experience

Tutor: Dr Rick Pugsley
Day and time: Tuesday 3.45 - 4.45
Venue: Room 1, 27-28 Bridge Street
Terms: Autumn, spring.
Number of places: 16
A listening tour of the musical evolution of our American cousins from the 1700's, through utopian communities to its important composers such as William Billings, Amy Beach, John Philip Sousa, William Schuman, Aaron Copland, Virgil Thomson, Scott Joplin, Vittorio Giannini, Dave Brubeck and Leonard Bernstein.

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MUS 02: Chamber Music Group

Leader: Lindsay Stemp
Day and time: Alternate Thursdays 2.00 - 4.00
Terms: Autumn, spring, summer.
Number of places: 7
A friendly and well established group of reasonably experienced players with good sight-reading skills. The aim is exploration and enjoyment of chamber music. The repertoire is mainly baroque but other styles are not excluded. A general standard of Grade 5 and above is recommended including Grade 5 Theory. The group is a small one (max seven players). Those interested in joining should check availablility of vacancies prior to application.
Note: Starts 7th October.

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MUS 03: Choir
Leader: Dr Alan Morgan
Day and time: Thursday 10.00 - 11.30
Venue: St Paul's Church, Hills Road
Terms: Autumn, spring.
Number of places: 100
We are now a 4 part choir and can therefore work on "proper" choral music, sacred and secular. Basses, tenors, altos and sopranos required. Good music readers are particularly welcome but everyone who is enthusiastic about singing is welcome. A separate course is being proposed for those who need to improve their music reading skills and therefore increase the enjoyment of being a choir singer. Last year's music included music by Purcell, Bach, Britten, Vaughan Williams, Rutter, Gershwin and nursery rhymes in the style of Bach, specially composed for the choir!

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MUS 04: Desert Island Discs (spring term)
Co-ordinators: Kate Grillet & Beryl Riley
Day and time: Monday 11.30 - 1.00
Venue: Friends Meeting House, Hartington Grove
Terms: Spring.
Number of places: 10
Whether or not you are an avid listener to this BBC programme, you are almost certainly aware of its format - the selection of 8 pieces of music that tell a life story. This course will be an opportunity to explore your life through the music that has associations for you with key events, people, and experiences; music that triggers thoughts and feelings, or perhaps evokes an era or an historical event. Members of the group will take it in turns to present their 8 discs (and their chosen book and luxury, of course), and to be interviewer; there will be time for response and discussion with the group.
Introductory Session Saturday 6th November 2.00 - 4.00 pm at the Friends' Meeting House, Hartington Grove. This session will be a preparation for the course and will be for a maximum of 10 people. The aim of the session will be to share ideas, in discussion and in small groups, about our significant music and what factors may determine our choice. We shall also discuss the technology required to gather music from a variety of sources. Please come with ideas.

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MUS 05: Gregorian Chant

Tutor: Dr Rick Pugsley
Day and time: Wednesday 2.00 - 3.00
Venue: Room 1, 27-28 Bridge Street
Terms: Autumn, spring.
Number of places: 16
Chant is probably the most ancient of musical expressions know to Western culture. Some believe it began in the time of Abraham. It has picked up the unique cultural changes of our society along the way. We shall investigate the modality of chant - that element that gives it some of its distinctive character. Our listening experiences will include different expressions of chant - both Western and Eastern European chant.

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MUS 06: Handel in Italy 1706-10 (summer term)

Tutor: Charles Bonney
Day and time: Thursday 11.00 -12.30
Venue: Room 5, 27-28 Bridge Street
Terms: Summer.
Number of places: 20
At 21, Handel decided to take himself to Italy to further his musical development. Always self-assured he seems to have had little difficulty in finding aristocratic patrons and establishing relationships with them which (most untypical of the times) found him more often at the top table than below stairs. We will listen to extended extracts from Handel's prolific Italian output (which includes the Dixit Dominus, his first oratorio La Resurrezzione, the operas Rodrigo and Agrippina and many delightul chamber cantatas) and examples of the competition (Scarlatti, Corelli etc.). We will take a close look at the development of opera and oratorio and at the city of Rome where Clement Xl was turning his attention to the restoration of some of the ancient Christian basilicas.
Note: 4 sessions only, starts 28th April.

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MUS 07: The Instruments of Classical Jazz - COURSE CANCELLED

Tutor: John Jarvis
Day and time: Tuesday 2.00 - 3.00
Venue: Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane
Terms: Autumn.
Number of places: 12
We hope to enjoy listening to a wide variety of jazz whilst paying particular attention to the instruments used and their players.

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MUS 08: Jazz on a Monday afternoon

Organiser: Alan Murphy
Day and time: Monday 2.00 - 3.30
Venue: The Centre at St Pauls, Hills Road
Terms: Autumn, spring.
Number of places: 50
Jazz was born in the early 20th century in and around New Orleans. It then spread North and West coming to Europe in the 1920s. In the autumn term we will illustrate this history through the music and accompanying commentary. In the spring term we will freewheel but will include at least one session of bring your own favourite recording. We aim to give programmes that are enjoyable and entertaining for the new and the experienced listener. Suggestions for reading include The Rough Guide to Jazz, The History of Jazz by Ted Gioia and A New History of Jazz by Alyn Shipton.

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MUS 09: Madrigal Group

Leader: Jennifer Day
Day and time: Tuesday 11.00 - 12.30
Venue: Christ Church, Christchurch Street
Terms: Autumn, spring.
Number of places: 25
The Madrigal Group is a meeting of those who love to sing 'a cappella' (unaccompanied) music together. We mainly use The Oxford Book of English Madrigals (ed. Philip Ledger) although we will explore madrigals from other sources, including Italian ones. We learn from each other's experience of singing or playing instruments in general, or of singing madrigals in particular. New members are welcome as long as you have some ablility to read music. Do not worry if you struggle at times, as we are very supportive of each other, and together we continue to make progress and have fun.
* There is an additional fee of £20 towards the cost of this venue, payable on application

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MUS 10: Music Club

Organiser: Beryl McKechnie
Secretary: Elizabeth Walser
Day and time: Tuesday 11.00 - 12.10
Venue: Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane
Terms: Autumn, spring.
Number of places: 100
The club offers varied programmes of recorded music presented mainly by members, drawing largely on the standard repertoire of classical music from early days to modern times, but with some excursions further afield. Occasional live performances. Excellent acoustics and sound production. Very much a social morning music club where - if you wish - you can relax and meet old friends or make new ones over coffee and a biscuit beforehand!

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MUS 11: Music in Britain, 1900-1975

Tutor: James Day
Day and time: Tuesday 11.00 - 12.30
Venue: Christ Church, Christchurch Street
Terms: Autumn, spring.
Number of places: 20
'The Land Without Music' is possibly the silliest and most arrogant title ever applied to Britain, especially as far as the 20th century is concerned. We shall investigate the changes in resources, attitudes and styles leading to the development of a distinctly British contribution to the world of art music in the 20th century from Elgar's Enigma Variations in 1899 to Britten's last works before he died in 1976.

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MUS 12: Music Reading for Singers

Tutor: Dr Alan Morgan
Day and time: Tuesday 10.00 - 11.30
Venue: St Paul's Church, Hills Rd
Terms: Autumn, spring.
Number of places: 50
This course which arose from discussions with the U3AC choir members is aimed at improving the knowledge of music theory with particular relevance to sight reading for singers. Although proposed in particular for choir members anyone is welcome but don't be surprised if we try to persuade you to join the choir!

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MUS 13: Music Theory Grade V

Leader: Ursula Stubbings
Day and time: Thursday 9.00 - 10.00
Venue: Room 4, 27-28 Bridge Street
Terms: Autumn, spring, summer.
Number of places: 6
This class will attempt to explore the meanings of those hieroglyphics which comprise written music. If you are learning an instrument or going to music appreciation classes this will help your reading and understanding of written music. Those who stay the course will learn to write simple tunes and will be able to take the theory exams Grades 2-5 of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Participants need to bring a music manuscript notebook, pencil and rubber.

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MUS 14: Opera (spring term)

Tutor: Derek Wood
Day and time: Monday 10.30 - 12.00
Venue: Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane
Terms: Spring.
Number of places: 100
We shall listen to Lucia di Lammermoor, Tancredi, Norma, Ariadne auf Naxos and Le Nozze di Figaro. There will be a short introduction to the cultural background, characters, plot and music, followed by lots of extracts. 2 weeks per opera. You are asked to donate £1 for the term to cover the cost of handouts.

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MUS 15: Playing piano 'by ear' - shaking off the tyranny of the black dots

Tutor: Allan J Organ
Day and time: Wednesday 10.30 - 11.30
Venue: The Centre at St. Paul's, Hills Road
Terms: Autumn.
Number of places: 8
The course is for the musical amateur who can hear a tune or song in his/her head (e.g. Fly me to the moon) and who wishes to coax it out of the piano - not merely the top line, but with convincing harmony and rhythm.
Participants will have studied piano via the traditional route up to Grade 3 or equivalent. They will have access to an instrument on which to practise between weekly classes. They will embark already able to play the common scales and arpeggios (major, minor) in keys up to 2 sharps and 2 flats, and to produce major and minor chords in those keys.
The learning process will involve watching and listening to demonstrations and exploring these at the keyboard under individual guidance.
There is overlap between playing 'by ear' and improvisation. One class will be held around the console of the 2-manual pipe organ at St Paul's, with each participant trying his/her hand at applying 'formulae' for improvisation.
Hard-copy notes will be issued week-by-week. These will summarise the principles covered, offer examples and suggest routines for practice. The final day of the course will be available for (completely optional) mini-recitals by participants wishing to demonstrate their newly-acquired skills!

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MUS 16: Richard Wagner - COURSE CANCELLED

Tutor: John Muir
Day and time: Tuesday 2.15 - 3.45
Venue: Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane
Terms: Autumn.
Number of places: 50
We will trace the development of Wagner's genius in writing operas which captivate audiences around the world some hundred and thirty years after his death. He developed his own librettos and of course his music has a unique appeal which appears to be increasing judging by the ever growing production of his works internationally.
The operas to be presented will start with his first great success The Flying Dutchman, a story of the doomed love of a sailor condemned to sail the seas for ever until saved by the love of a woman. To follow will be Tanhauser another fatal love affair without a happy ending and then his great Tristan & Isolde which again is a story of sacrificial love but with some of his most glorious and passionate music. We will conclude the course with The Mastersingers in which Wagner presents a different face, based upon a true life 15th century poet (and cobbler) and it is his only comedy and has a happy ending with great musical ensembles and solos including The Prize Song, an early form of song contest which also has an appearance in Tanhauser. There will be a full presentation of his life and of each opera with handouts, no previous experience of Wagner is required to enjoy some of his best music composed before completion of The Ring of which we may also be able to give a short introduction.

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MUS 17: Singing for Sheer Pleasure (spring term)

Leader: Claire Parker
Day and time: Monday 2.00 - 3.30
Venue: Room 5, 27-28 Bridge Street
Terms: Spring.
Number of places: 25
Do you find yourself humming along to well-know melodies or tapping out tunes on the steering wheel? This group might suit you. Our aim is to enjoy the fun to be gained when singing in 2,3 or even 4 parts, backed by keygoard and rhythmic sounds of our own making. Our repertoir will range from well-known classics, through international folk song to jazz style singing. (Some music may need to be bought.) While a female majority is anticipated, male voices will always be more than welcome. Those who can read music will doubtless support the non-readers but the main aim of each session will be to learn through simple repetition while having lots of fun.

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MUS 18: String Quartets from Haydn to Schoenberg & Beyond

Tutor: Dr Rick Pugsley
Day and time: Wednesday 3.00 - 4.00
Venue: Room 1, 27-28 Bridge Street
Terms: Autumn, spring.
Number of places: 15
A listening course in the development of the String Quartet genre as it evolved through many great composers of Western music. Many experts say the String Quartet is the best way to discover the real talent of a composer because the music is stripped down to "bare essentials", exposing the talent of the composer and the brilliance of his art in miniature. Included are works by Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven, Schoenberg, Hindemith, Barber and others. Previous musical knowledge not required.

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MUS 19: Talking about Music

Tutor: David Waldman
Day and time: Monday 10.30 - 12.00
Venue: Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane
Terms: Autumn.
Number of places: 120
This is a course is aimed at pleasure - the pleasure derived from listening to great music. In some cases you will be introduced to less familiar works. Most weeks we will listen to a piece of music, after an introduction and the playing of extracts, which should help with a greater appreciation of the piece. Presentations will include works by, amongst others, Beethoven, Nielsen, Elgar, Mozart, Gershwin and Mahler. One week will be devoted to music by Jewish composers and another week there will be a so-called 'Innocent Ear' session where you will learn the title of the piece only after hearing it.
No detailed knowledge of music is necessary - merely the desire to hear great music.

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MUS 20: U3AC Recorder Group

Co-ordinator: Christine Gibbons
Day and time: Alternate Fridays throughout the year 2.00 - 3.30
Venue: Friends Meeting House, Hartington Grove
Terms: Autumn, spring, summer.
Number of places: 18
We are a self-supporting chamber group of recorder players, meeting fortnightly throughout the year. Members bring music of different styles for the group to play, often introducing or conducting the music themselves. To obtain the most from this activity you should have some sight-reading skills and should definitely bring your own music stand and recorders.
Note: Starts 24th September.

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