Tutor information
Peter Copley
Peter Copley D.Phil, MA, B.mus is a composer, cellist and pianist. He is a visiting lecturer at OUDCE, the University of Sussex and for the Open University, where he has been a Research Associate for the music faculty.
Courses
Discover classical music through five pivotal moments in its history. Explore the origins of opera, the symphony and other genres, and consider the revolutionary ways in which they were developed and transformed.
Explore the basics of classical music theory - notation, rhythm, melody, harmony and form - relating theory to practice with examples from over three centuries of repertoire. Also helpful for those preparing for music theory exams.
We will trace the main developments in early western music from about 1000 to 1600CE. Each session will be a 'snapshot' of a particular moment in the history of music and will include a wide range of musical examples for listening and discussion.
Composers such as Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven developed the string quartet to become the vehicle for some of their profoundest creations as well as for musical wit and entertainment. We will examine the string quartet from its origins to the present.
Even after 150 years, Wagner's epic cycle of four operas, the "The Ring of the Nibelungs", remains one of the great challenges, for performers and listeners alike. In this day school, Dr Peter Copley gives a comprehensive introduction to the cycle.