Classical Music Through the Ages, Part 1: The Medieval Era

Every great tradition has a beginning, and for classical music, it lies in the Middle Ages (circa 500–1400). In this course, we explore the sounds that first shaped the Western musical tradition. We listen to the serene beauty of Gregorian chant, meet the remarkable abbess and composer Hildegard of Bingen, follow the troubadours who sang of courtly love, and hear the birth of harmony in the music of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Along the way, we discover how faith, poetry, and everyday life gave rise to musical ideas that composers would build upon for centuries to come. No musical background is required, just curiosity and a love of listening.