The 30 Greatest Orchestral Works

By: Robert Greenberg, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Robert Greenberg

Over the centuries, orchestral music has given us a category of works that stand apart as transcendent expressions of the human spirit. What are these "greatest of the greats"? Find out in these 32 richly detailed lectures that take you on a sumptuous grand tour of the symphonic pieces that continue to live at the center of our musical culture. These thirty masterworks form an essential foundation for any music collection and a focal point for understanding the orchestral medium and deepening your insight into the communicative power of music. While seasoned music lovers will find the lectures a revealing journey through the repertoire, the course welcomes newcomers to orchestral music, offering a very accessible point of entry to this magnificent repertoire.

You'll encounter symphonies, concertos, tone poems, symphonic poems, and suites, delving into the works through extensive musical excerpts. The course covers the major eras and stylistic periods in Western music from the early 18th- to the mid-20th centuries and highlights a wide range of European and American works. Among these: Haydn's Symphony no. 104, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, and Shostakovich's Symphony no. 5. Throughout these lectures, you'll learn about the major musical forms found in orchestral writing and how they're used in conveying expressive meanings. Knowing how these forms work allows you to grasp the structure of the music as you hear it, and also to appreciate how the greatest composers used them, extended them, and finally departed from them in sublimely original ways.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2011 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2011 The Great Courses

Good Intro to musical works

A good intro to musical works. Just wish the narrator had been a little less bombastic. His delivery reminded me of an over eager teacher giving high-fives and "good job!" When the student puts the lid back on the paste. But, I'm a boomer and none of my professors were ever so excited and enthusiastic in their lectures.

Learned, Wry, Joyous

I hope to listen to these lectures again because they were so good. I listened to some while chopping wood, some while lying sick in bed, some while baking bread, some while driving the dog to the vet. Always riveting and yet, as you can tell from my examples, I was at times otherwise occupied. A second pass through will, no doubt, double my enjoyment, which is saying something. Professor Greenberg rocks!

A Fun, Informative Overview Of The World of Classical Music

So enjoyable, so fun, so informative - and this is coming from a person who didn't really know the second thing about classical music! Sure, I can distinguish my Bach from my Beethoven, but this course proved an incredibly useful help! And the professor is fabulous!

Finally I can enjoy orchestral music

I have an undergraduate and masters degree in music-related fields, but before this course I couldn't really hear or understand classical music, so I never listened to it. Professor Greenberg brings this repertoire to life with historical context, interpretation of the music, and his own humorous and passionate style. The door to orchestral music was finally opened for me by this course and for this I am incredibly grateful to TTC and Professor Greenberg. Thank you!

Oh So Great

What a shame to go through life without knowing this music. How much poorer would we be. Greenberg is a treasure: candid, smart, passionate. All you'd want in a teacher. Bravo.

Educational and entertaining

Not only did I expose myself to great musical works of art, but I laughed!!

Another excellent lecture from Dr. Greenberg

As with all of Dr. Greenberg's lectures this one is excellent and very informative. I only wish there was more time in these courses to explore the composers and the various works in more depth.

Wonderful!

What a treat! I love music but am not a student of music. Mr. Greenburg took me on a journey through these works and through the background of the composers themselves. He also set each work in the time of their composition bringing together the composer's lives and political and economic times along with the works themselves. Then he gives a lecture on the components of the pieces. I love all 30 works and now I understand what it is about them that I like. I am still not a student of music, but now I have a greater understanding of these musical masterpieces and look forward to listening to his other course.

Great survey of beautiful orchestral music

The instructor loves music and clearly loves to teach and inspire listeners. Wonderful course for people wanting to elevate their musical taste.

Great Presenter!

There is nothing like a presenter who knows the topic, lives the topic and entertains with enthusiasm for the topic. Mr. Greenberg has shown me worlds I hadn’t visited before! Great closing remarks as well. Free the music!