Chopin, Pianos, Revolutions

This seminar offers a survey of the music by Fryderyk Chopin, examining his output in historical, geopolitical, and cultural context. Organized by genre, the study will be accompanied by the discussion of music as performance, using legendary recordings, and live in-class demonstrations. Through guided listening, analysis of the written score, and reading assignments, students will obtain tools to discuss topics related to the piano (the development of which will be an integral part of the course), comparative performance, interpretation, and performance practice. Since student performances will be an important component of the course, members of the Music Performance Program receive registration priority.