The Intimate Beauty of Chamber Music

This is perhaps the most subtle and intimate form of musical expression. It has inspired many great composers to create some of their most sublime works. Originally designed for the private enjoyment of its players in a drawing room, it is now heard in recital and concert halls throughout the world. Saul Lilienstein explores and analyzes some of the repertoire's greatest works, from the lyrical beauty of Mozart and Haydn, the summits of intensity and experimentation of Beethoven to the Romantic yearnings of Schubert, Brahms and Dvorak. The semester concludes with the vibrant Hungarian style heard in Bartok's String Quartets and the spirit of defiance against the Soviet regime by Dmitri Shostakovich.