CRI Music   

Upon taking the job of Thomaskantor in Leipzig in 1723, Johann Sebastian Bach was finally in a position in his career to realize his aspiration to provide "well-regulated church music" to the city’s main churches. Bach’s church cantata productions in Leipzig can be grouped into yearly cycles; the first ran from late May 1723 to early June 1724 and comprised over 50 pieces. Let’s continue our exploration through Bach’s first Leipzig cantata cycle. We will look at the overall characteristics of these works and select a few for deeper analysis. We will review the occasion for each cantata, analyze its text, and conduct light musical analysis to learn about Bach’s masterful musical language, then listen to the entire cantata in class. Whether you’re a Bach enthusiast already or new to his music, join us to get immersed in the world of one of the greatest composers in history. NOTE: No need to have participated in any of our previous Bach classes to enjoy this one.

We all ‘know’ that the Beatles reshaped popular music in the 20th century, but their impact on fashion, film, politics, and popular culture is sometimes taken for granted. This course explores the Beatles’ extraordinary journey from postwar Liverpool to worldwide stardom and a legacy that reaches to the present day. We will trace their evolution from early Beatlemania to the innovative studio years to the parting of the ways, considering how their work reflected and transformed the turbulent 1960s. Along the way, we’ll examine the social and historical forces that shaped their rise, their impact on youth and identity, and the ways their image and music continue to resonate today. The course combines lecture, discussion, music, and video clips, but it is not a technical music appreciation class. No prior musical knowledge is required—just curiosity about the phenomenon that was, and is, the Beatles and the world they helped shape.