Appreciating Classical Music

Instructor:  Bruce Lorenzana

Credits: None

Class Description:   A crown jewel of Western civilization is our musical tradition. The ability to appreciate the bulk of this tradition, however, has been lost. We are quickly bored by songs that last longer than three minutes. We are disappointed when a song lacks a dopamine-dumping “bass drop.” We fill our minds with vapid lyrics. But music can be, and has been, much more than this. In this course, students will be introduced to the major movements of classical Western music. By listening to great pieces of classical music, reading short articles on music by the late Sir Roger Scruton, and engaging in class conversation, students will learn principles that will enable them to (1) intelligently enjoy the glorious music of our past, (2) use music to more deeply perceive the beauty of God’s world, and (3) understand how learning to listen to classical music can help us pursue the good life in the world of today.