Great Music of the 20th Century

By: The Great Courses

Narrated by: Professor Robert Greenberg PhD

The 20th century was a hotbed of musical exploration, innovation, and transformation unlike any other epoch in history. Ranging across the century in its entirety, these 24 lectures present a musical cornucopia of astounding dimensions - a major presentation and exploration of the incredible brilliance and diversity of musical art across a turbulent century.

Using a chronological approach, you'll explore the fascinating gamut of 20th-century musical "isms", from impressionism and fauvism to serialism, stochasticism, ultraserialism, neoclassicism, neotonalism, and minimalism as well as the inclusivity and synthesis within concert music that embraced Western historical styles, folk and popular music, jazz, rock, Asian, Latin American, and other influences in the service of heightened musical expression. Through the panoramic view of the course, you'll discover the genius of composers such as Debussy, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Webern, Bartok, Ligeti, Riley, and many others.

Far more than simply a series of lectures, the program comprises a huge and many-sided resource for discovering the endless riches of 20th-century concert music across the globe. The phenomenal range of genres and composers covered and the wealth of suggestions for specific works make this a reference that could easily inspire years of musical exploration and glorious listening.

This remarkable inquiry opens the doors to an extraordinary spectrum of contemporary masterpieces that await discovery and deep listening. Within these unique and riveting lectures, Professor Greenberg offers you the keys to understanding and deep enjoyment of a revolutionary, visionary, and magnificent era in music. In Great Music of the 20th Century, you'll experience the living, evolving, and superlative musical art that so vividly and unforgettably speaks to the life of our times.

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

©2018 The Teaching Company, LLC; 2018 The Great Courses (P)2018 The Great Courses

We need no longer be afraid!

Professor Greenberg once again hits it out of the park. I first purchased his independent course on music of the 20th century, then got The Great Courses version when it eventually became available. NOTE: This format is slightly different than his other courses. Because of the extreme expense of licensing any music of the last 75 years or so, the musical samples are referred to in URLs to go and seek on your own, mostly on YouTube, but to some other sites. If a link doesn't work, check Prof. Greenberg's site (In the course guide) for an alternate, or just look up the piece on your own. It's worth it! There is a LOT covered here. Some of this music you might not like at all. Some you may be intrigued by, or understand WHY it's important, but not really care to listen to it. Some of it you may not like at first but, as you delve into it, it will open up and reward you in ways that may even surprise you. And, of course, you'll surely find something new to love here. I've discovered several of my new favorites in this course that I know I'd never have encountered otherwise. And, as always, Prof. Greenberg ties everything back to the times, the history, the events and people who shaped this weird and perpetually evolving thing we call 'culture.' Give yourself some time after each lecture to explore the pieces and composers he mentions, then to branch out to explore other works, to think about, to feel, to listen to with an open mind and open ears. Then go on to the next lecture, and think how each style and school of composition grows out of, or in opposition to, what came before. Then, keep exploring, with a broader perspective and, hopefully, greater interest and understanding. Rock, Jazz, 'concert' music, pop, etc, it all came from something before it, and it's all going somewhere still. Get on board for the ride!

Great lecturer No music to be heard

This course would be greatly enhanced if the musical segments (urls) were available to listen to during the lectures

Wonderful and informative

People complain about the lack of musical examples as if it were Greenberg's fault, but he clearly explains that licensing the examples would have pushed the budget for this course to a point where the course wouldn't exist. I'm very glad it does exist, because in addition to providing good context for many composers I had heard of, I learned about some great composers that I had been unaware of.

A lot of the URLs he provides for performances don't work anymore, but I created a Spotify playlist that covers just about all of the musical examples at https://open.spotify.com/user/bobdc/playlist/550CvxhGzH2QC3vwfzrrvE?si=xuQa8JMySfaTzNfeR30azg .

thrilling lectures sometimes not fit for beginners

thrilling lectures on the different genres of orchestral music and their rapid transitions durring the 20th cen., with many powerful historical insights. it is fit for listeners with solid music vocabulary.
not recommended before listening to "how to listen and understand great music". not fit for listening while driving, since all the music is linked and not played on lecture.
some links lead to tracks that no longer exist on YouTube, and it can be frustrating.

Happy to overlook lack of musical examples

Greenberg clearly states at the outset of this course that a Greenberg course on 20th century music with musical examples wouldn’t have been possible. There’s no use whining about it. Other than the lack of musical examples, it’s the Greenberg you know and feel slightly ambivalent toward because he read Berlioz’s writing in a condescending voice, but you’re grateful for him anyway.