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The Story of Great Music

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  1. Introduction

    Instructions & Setup
    5 Steps
  2. The Renaissance and Baroque Eras
    1. Renaissance
    8 Steps
    |
    1 Quiz
  3. 2. Early Baroque
    11 Steps
    |
    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
    9 Steps
    |
    1 Quiz
  7. 6. Mozart
    10 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
    |
    1 Quiz
  10. 9. French Romantics
    8 Steps
    |
    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
    |
    1 Quiz
  17. 16. Finland, England, & America
    9 Steps
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    1 Quiz
Lesson Progress
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  • The second reading in this lesson, on Beethoven’s Middle & Later Periods, sketches out some of the monumental changes that were taking place in Europe before and during the composer’s life. Research the occupations of Vienna by Napoleon, for instance. How were these connected to the French Revolution of 1789? Make a case for why revolution, independence, liberty, and conflict would be major topical influences on the musical compositions of the time.
  • The readings for this lesson include several quotations from contemporary reviews of Beethoven’s performances and premieres. Find and document as many others as you can find, and write a brief synopsis of the “public” figure of Beethoven. How was this similar or different from the way the composer conducted himself in private?