The History of the Symphony: Northern Masters
The symphony in Scandinavia and Britain forms a vital tradition that is complementary to the better-known Central European tradition of composers such as Beethoven. The nature mysticism of Jean Sibelius, the rigorous logic of Carl Nielsen, the eloquent and sometimes pastoral Vaughan Williams, and the lush voluptuousness of Arnold Bax will highlight this great repertoire. As a prologue, Sir Edgar Elgar’s symphonies will be examined as well. Through CDs, DVDs, historical context, and musical analysis, we will assess these works and their importance in the Western musical tradition.