Women Composers in Western Music

Throughout the course of European music history, men dominated the world of great composers. Many of these male composers had a spouse or a female sibling who was also actively involved in the music world. How were these women able to successfully combine the traditional roles of mother or sister with their creative endeavors, especially when a patriarchal society discouraged them from pursuing professional musical careers? Most people know very little about the lives of Mozart’s and Mendelssohn’s sisters, for example, but they—like their brothers—were extremely gifted composers and performers. Learn about the lives and music of these women and other female composers, including Fanny Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann, Amy Beach, French composer Cecile Chaminade and 20th composers Lera Auerbach and Galina Ustvolskaya, and hear some of their recently published piano compositions performed by the instructor.


Instructor: Alexander Tentser

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Time Travelers – Oro Valley Session

Enduring Literature through the Ages

The great books have survived the centuries because they speak to the human experience in a way that continues to resonate with readers. Even if you have read these classics, you’ll want to join literature professor Bill Fry for a fresh look at these enduring works. This course will focus on eight of the world’s greatest authors from Euripides to Virginia Woolf, with emphasis on how their finest work was influenced by the time and place in which they lived.

Week 1: Euripides (480-406 B.C.) in Greece  MEDEA (431 B.C.)

Week 2: Chaucer (1340-1400) in England “The Miller’s Tale” from THE CANTERBURY TALES (1386-1400)

Week 3: Dante: (1265-1321) in Italy THE INFERNO from THE DIVINE COMEDY (1308-1321)

Week 4: Cervantes (1547-1616) in Spain DON QUIXOTE (1605 & 1615)

Week 5: Shakespeare (1564-1616) in England MACBETH (1605)

Week 6: Goethe (1749-1832) in Germany FAUST (1808)

Week 7: Tolstoy (1828-1910) in Russia ANNA KARENINA (1877)

Week 8: Woolf (1882-1941) in England A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN (1929)


Instructor: William A. Fry

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World War I

1917

Even though the battlefields on both the Eastern and Western fronts continued with senseless offensives and counter-attacks, little movement in the lines and high casualties, two other events anticipated global effects for the remainder of the twentieth century. The first occurred when the Tsarist regime collapsed in a series of upheavals that resulted in a Bolshevik victory. The other was the entry of the United States on the side of the Entente powers. Both cast long shadows that still resonate in 2017.

Week 1: The Russian Revolution
As many had anticipated the World War placed strains on Russian society that it was ill-equipped to resolve. Horrendous casualties, the inability to hold off German attacks and the deteriorating domestic situation led to the February Revolution that toppled the Romanov dynasty. After the Provisional Government tried and failed to reverse the military situation, the October Revolution brought Lenin and the Bolsheviks to power with the promise of peace, land and bread.

Week 2: American Entry into the War
Since 1898 the United States had embarked on a policy of a greater role in world affairs. In 1914 the United States had declared its neutrality and President Woodrow Wilson had won reelection in 1916 on the slogan that he had kept America out of the war. In Germany the announcement in January that it would resume unrestricted submarine warfare led to a declaration of war in April 1917. The United States had committed itself to participation in the War that already had dragged on for three years.

Week 3: The Western Front
Up and down the trenches the slaughter continued until finally the French army mutinied in opposition to the continuous offensives that drove up the casualty lists. Once discipline was restored the French went on the defensive while waiting for the Americans to arrive. The Germans adopted primarily a defensive posture in accordance with their hopes for victory in 1918. The British meanwhile continued the policy of attacks that sought the breakthrough that would open the road to Berlin and victory. By the end of the year only the number of casualties on all sides had really changed.

Week 4: The Home Fronts, 1917
Despite the constant government propaganda aimed at support for the war in all countries, domestic hardships and the stalemate at the front combined to arouse anti-war sentiment. Those who now opposed the war were usually vilified, often arrested and harassed by the government and civilians alike. It was not surprising, therefore, that attempts to find a peaceful resolution to hostilities went nowhere. And so the war continued.


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Bernini and Baroque Rome

A Sumptuous and Theatrical Feast

After nearly a century of sacks (both politically and militarily), religious division and anarchy, as well as social instability and corruption, one could argue that by 1600, Rome had shaken off its troubles and finally come into its own. New artists were on the scene like Caravaggio and Annibale Caracci, old projects were being completed, the whole city was being transformed and beautified, and a completely new attitude and approach to the arts was being developed and cultivated. The man who oversaw this transformation – the man who became (for good or ill) the artistic dictator of all of Rome, was Gian Lorenzo Bernini. More than any artist, Bernini came to dominate the Baroque Age, not only in Italy, but all of Europe. Gian Lorenzo Bernini was a sculptor, a painter and an architect, who commanded the direction of art for the majority of the 17th century. He was truly a man of his time, creating an ideal vision of the world while simultaneously reflecting how the triumphant and powerful Rome of the 17th century was really dancing on the head of a pin. By contextualizing Bernini with the other artists of his time (such as Caravaggio, Pierto da Cortona and Borromini), we will unpack and investigate works such as the Apollo and Daphne, the David and The Ecstasy of Saint Theresa, in a new light. Plus, we will examine the major projects for St. Peter’s: experience, memory, fame and immortality. Bernini’s work, perhaps like no other, shows how what appears to be even the most powerful, is truly the most fragile.

Week 1: Introduction–Rome in 1600—Energy, Power and Money. The Triumph of the Catholic Church–Caravaggio, Annibale Carracci and Maderno.

Week 2: The Young Bernini and the works for Cardinal Scipione Borghese–the rise to prominence and fame.

Week 3: The Papal artist, the Dictator of the Arts—Bernini and Urban VIII. But the higher they climb, the harder they fall.

Week 4: The Artistic and Political Response–Bernini in Disgrace–well not really. Pietro da Cortona and Borromini, two different responses to rivalry and patronage.

Week 5: The Return to Favor—Bernini and Alexander VII. Triumph and Dominance. Rome Will Never be the Same.

Week 6: Bernini’s Triumphant Trip to France….well maybe not so Triumphant….and the Twilight of Bernini’s Career. The sun never sets on the legacy of Bernini.


Instructor: Kevin Justus

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Dancin’ Fools – Session 1

The Art of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly once said that “the history of dance on film begins with Astaire.” One might say that the history of dance on film ends with Kelly. Dancin’ Fools will explore the Broadway and Hollywood careers of these two iconic song and dance men who define the Golden Age of movie musicals. Astaire’s elegance and Kelly’s athleticism transformed dance in popular culture and elevated it to the status of art. Astaire in his top hat and tails and Kelly in his white socks and loafers were a counter point to each other, enchanting audiences worldwide in over 60 movie musicals. Dancin’ Fools toasts the dream machine that produced the film classics Top Hat, On the Town, Swing Time, An American in Paris, Easter Parade and Singin’ in the Rain. Fred and Gene danced to the great American Song Book and the music of Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and Harold Arlen. Fred Astaire declared that “dancing is a sweat job.” Dancin’ Fools goes into the rehearsal studio and explores the choreographic process of Astaire and Kelly and the unforgettable numbers they did with Ginger and Judy and Cyd and Rita. Dancin’ Fools celebrates the genius of Fred and Gene whose art is timeless, so join me and Let’s Face the Music and Dance!


Instructor: Richard T. Hanson

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Dancin’ Fools – Session 2

The Art of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly once said that “the history of dance on film begins with Astaire.” One might say that the history of dance on film ends with Kelly. Dancin’ Fools will explore the Broadway and Hollywood careers of these two iconic song and dance men who define the Golden Age of movie musicals. Astaire’s elegance and Kelly’s athleticism transformed dance in popular culture and elevated it to the status of art. Astaire in his top hat and tails and Kelly in his white socks and loafers were a counter point to each other, enchanting audiences worldwide in over 60 movie musicals. Dancin’ Fools toasts the dream machine that produced the film classics Top Hat, On the Town, Swing Time, An American in Paris, Easter Parade and Singin’ in the Rain. Fred and Gene danced to the great American Song Book and the music of Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and Harold Arlen. Fred Astaire declared that “dancing is a sweat job.” Dancin’ Fools goes into the rehearsal studio and explores the choreographic process of Astaire and Kelly and the unforgettable numbers they did with Ginger and Judy and Cyd and Rita. Dancin’ Fools celebrates the genius of Fred and Gene whose art is timeless, so join me and Let’s Face the Music and Dance!


Instructor: Richard T. Hanson

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Political Expression through the Visual Arts

Political art, taking a stand through the making of art objects, has been a tradition in western culture for centuries. Artists have expressed their strongest opinions on government, freedom, justice, warfare, the environment and the distribution of wealth with the most powerful means at their disposal, often at great personal and professional risk. Despite the objections of art purists who maintain that aesthetics are necessarily compromised when expressing political views, the historic practice of political art has produced hundreds of masterpieces.

Journey through this fascinating body of art history full of beautiful, exciting, shocking and controversial works and the stories behind these works in a series of 5 lectures, from the earliest examples to the current crop of socio/political art.

Guest speakers will include practicing artists, collectors and museum experts.

Week 1: Introduction
A discussion of the relationship of art to politics, the difference between protest and propaganda, artist’s rights and artistic freedom. Classical Greek playwrights, myth making and folklore.

Week 2: History Paintings of the 17th-18th Centuries Paintings, prints and the political cartoon. Revolution! War and Peace, 19th century protests, propaganda and drama.

Week 3: A Rude Awakening
Total War and the New Barbarians, humanitarian crisis, economic ruin.

Week 4: 20th Century Continued
Mexican muralists. The Middle East, Africa, Asia. Equality, fair labor, feminism.

Week 5: The Globalization of Contemporary Art
Post Modernism, Neo-Pop and message as medium. Is this really art?


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Relationships and Mythology

Family relationships are basic to people’s interactions. Our cultural stories both reflect and shape the nature of these relationships. This class will look at distinctive family relationships and the Greek and biblical myths that shape these relationships in our own time. We will also consider the meanings the mythological tales impart to our conception of these relationships.

Week 1: Husband-wife
Zeus-Hera/Jupiter-Juno; Gaia (Earth)-Ouranos (Sky)

Week 2: Father-son
Zeus-Apollo; Zeus-Hermes; Abraham-Isaac

Week 3: Father-daughter
Zeus-Athena

Week 4: Mother-daughter/son
Demeter-Persephone; Naomi-Ruth [Aunt-niece]; Hera-sons

Week 5: Brother-brother
Cain-Abel; Jacob-Esau; Damon-Pythias

Week 6: Sister-sister
Athena-Artemis


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Taste of Tucson Downtown – Tour 2

Culinary & Cultural Tour

Enjoy a culinary and cultural tour that will awaken your senses to the sights, sounds and culinary delights of downtown Tucson. The tour begins at the Mercado San Agustin where you will learn about the history surrounding the area and enjoy the first delicious tasting at Agustin Kitchen. From the Mercado we hop on the streetcar (ticket included in the price) to Broadway and Church where we walk through the historic sights of downtown, stopping for pre-selected tastings at four additional locally owned restaurants. At each restaurant stop you will meet either the chef or owner who will speak about the inspiration behind their cuisine and answer questions. This is a fun, informative and tasty way to learn about our city’s history, the local restaurants and experience the newly launched modern streetcar.

The itinerary includes approximately 2 miles of walking. Tasting menus are preselected by the chefs and cannot be customized to meet special dietary needs.


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