MUSIC ACADEMY

2024-25 Winter Session

Musical Tales

  • Wednesdays, January 15, 22, and 29.
  • 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm 
  • Class size limit: 30 participants
  • Cost: $75.00
  • Delivered over Zoom
    Classes will be recorded; participants may request a recording if a class is missed.

Framed by an unlikely love story from the Arabian Nights, Rimsky-Korsakov’s dramatic symphonic poem Scheherazade features a captivating storyteller who spins a new tale every night to save her life.

Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Overture lavishly depicts Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers, complete with dazzling swordfights, saintly friars, and a love theme that is one of the most recognizable tunes in classical music.

Smetana takes listeners on a river trip through his beloved Czech countryside.

Saint-Saëns conjures up a night of whimsical dancing skeletons.

These are just a few examples of “program music” – instrumental pieces which tell a story or evoke experiences beyond the music itself. We’ll explore these and other programmatic masterpieces by great Romantic composers, spending about half of each session listening to music, interspersed with discussions on the composers, the cultural and historical context, and the stories depicted in each piece.

(Note: This course continues the theme of symphonic storytelling -- with different featured pieces and composers-- but is open to anyone, not just those who took the first Symphonic Storytelling class).

Instructor is Elke Jahns-Harms, a professional flutist and amateur singer, holds a Master’s in Music and a PhD in International Relations. She previously taught "Music and Social Change" at the New England Conservatory, in addition to dozens of music appreciation classes for both novices and experienced musicians. She is also teaching a course in January via Zoom for the Tufts Osher Lifelong Learning Institute on Verdi's Requiem.

  • Registration Deadline Friday, January 10, 2025, for both online and check payments.
  • Online payment is due with registration submission.
  • Checks must be received by Friday, January 10th to ensure enrollment.

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