Print this page A Beginner's Guide to the Concerto

The concerto is one of classical music’s most engaging forms - a conversation between soloist and orchestra. This course introduces what defines a concerto, how it developed and what to listen for. Through guided listening and discussion, participants learn how structure, contrast and dialogue create musical drama, deepening enjoyment of orchestral music. Ideal for newcomers wanting to listen with greater confidence and understanding.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

COURSE OUTLINE

• Introduction to the concerto
• Definition and origins of the concerto
• The Baroque Concerto: Bach, Handel, Vivaldi
• The Concerto Grosso: Ritornello Form
• The Classical Concerto: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven
• The First Movement: Concerto Sonata Form
• The Romantic Concerto: Mendelssohn, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky
• The Second Movement: Ternary or Song Form
• The Twentieth Century Concerto: Rakhmaninov, Elgar, Ravel, Schoenberg, Stravinsky
• The Third Movement: Sonata-Rondo Form

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Describe the basic structure of a concerto
2. List some great concertos
3. Describe briefly the development of the concerto