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The Story of Great Music

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  1. Introduction

    What You Need to Begin
    5 Steps
  2. The Renaissance and Baroque Eras
    1. Renaissance
    8 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  3. 2. Early Baroque
    11 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  4. 3. Handel
    10 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  5. 4. Bach
    13 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  6. The Classical Era
    5. Haydn
    8 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  7. 6. Mozart
    9 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  8. 7. Beethoven
    8 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  9. The Romantic Era
    8. Early German Romantics
    9 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  10. 9. French Romantics
    8 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  11. 10. Masters of the Piano
    8 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  12. 11. Romantic Opera
    9 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  13. 12. Brahms
    8 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  14. 13. Romantic Nationalism
    10 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  15. 14. Russian Romantics
    9 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  16. The 20th Century
    15. French Impressionism
    10 Steps
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    1 Quiz
  17. 16. Finland, England, & America
    9 Steps
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    1 Quiz
Lesson Progress
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Choose one of the works below and watch it in its entirety.

Watch Piano Concerto in D Major (24 min)

This is an amazing historic performance from the USSR featuring possibly the greatest pianist of the 20th century: Sviatoslav Richter. He performs here with the Minsk chamber orchestra. Richter loved Haydn and brought a clarity and beauty to his work unmatched by other pianists. This performance was so popular that the audience has them do an encore of the entire work (hence the longer time of the video). The time-codes for the three movements are below.

Timing: 1. Vivace – 1:02 | 2. Un Poco Adagio – 9:35 | 3. Rondo – 15:45 || Encore: 1. Vivace – 24:43 | 2. Un Poco Adagio – 33:09 | 3. Rondo – 39:20

Watch Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major (20 min)

This is a wonderfully lyrical performance by the legendary Russian cellist Mistolov Rostropovich with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. It unfortunately is broken into three videos, so you will just play them one at a time. Rostropovich was considered one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century; he and Richter often performed together.

1. Allegro Moderato

2. Adagio

3. Rondo Allegro

Watch Piano Sonata No. 31 in A Flat Major (26 min)

Performed here by a young Igo Pogorelich, a talented Russian pianist. The movements are marked in the video.

Watch String Quartet Op. 76, No. 2 “Fifths” (21 min)

A rousing live performance by the Jasper Quartet. In this performance, the camera angle is centered so that you can watch how the players interact with each other: it reveals how much concentration it requires for four people to play in perfect unison.

Watch Symphony No. 60, “The Distracted” (26 min)

This is one of Haydn’s more unusual symphonies in that it has six movements. It is conducted by Giovanni Antonini and the orchestra Il Giardino Armonico.

Timing: 1. Adagio – Allegro di molto – 0:08 | 2. Andante – 6:30 | 4. Menuetto – Trio – 12:23 | 4. Presto – 16:01 | 5. Adagio – Allegro – 18:48 | 6. Finale – Prestissimo – 23:17