This course is designed to appeal to graduate musicologists, historians (European history, cultural history, history of ideas), music lovers, and music students who wish to know more about the development of the orchestra, from its inception within the context of 16th century string ensembles to the orchestras of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven; the course will comprise issues arising from the organization, instrumentation, social role, repertoire, and performance practice of the orchestra as documented during this period in Europe and the American colonies. The course concludes with the early-nineteenth century awareness of the orchestra as a central musical institution in European cultural life.

Curriculum:

* Pre-orchestral ensembles

* Lully?s Orchestra

* Corelli?s orchestra

* The Orchestra in Italy

* The Orchestra in France

* The Orchestra in Germany

* The Orchestra in England

* The Classic era Orchestra

* Placement, Seating and Acoustics

* Orchestral performance practices

* The Meaning of the Orchestra

One 3000 word essay: 50%;

One class lecture presentation of 40 minutes duration: 50%.

24 hours of lectures (please contact course coordinator for class schedule)