Course Description

From sheer talent, breaking new ground, or outselling their rivals, a few artists are foremost practitioners of their art: their work is legendary, their styles imitated but never surpassed, their triumphs and losses brilliantly conveyed in their music. From the deep baritone of Paul Robeson to the crystalline harmonies of Crosby, Stills and Nash; from the Gulag-defying symphonies of Shostakovich to the rock opera of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody; from the intense lyricism of Bob Dylan to the lyric soul of Nina Simone, great artists rise above their peers and critics to tell our story. This course will examine the work, biographies and enduring importance of these musical artists, and attempt to sort myth from reality, using updated videos and excerpts from feature films, live performances and a few surprises.

Lectures