Classical Contemporary Music will be delivered in a series of lectures by both Guildhall Composition Department Staff and world-renowned guest speakers and composers, and will also include hands-on workshops with live musicians from the Guildhall School.

This exciting new programme will help you explore the world of contemporary classical music. You will be introduced to key composers and cultural issues of the early twentieth century. This will serve as a backdrop leading to classes on the seminal figures, movements and works of the later composers from across the world, all the way up to the present day. Related classes on such fascinating issues as ‘How do Composers Compose?’ and ‘New and Recent British Music’ will also feature.

The course will cover among other topics:

• Seminal composers of the C20th
• Messiaen, his students and their ‘schools’
• 12-Tone composition and its legacy
• Electronic Music
• Key independent figures
• Minimalism and Post-minimalism
• Contemporary practice among living composers
• And will culminate with an excursion to a live concert.

About the course tutors

The course is led by Matthew Kaner, Guildhall Composition staff and invited guests. Matthew gained a distinction for his Masters in Composition at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, supervised by Julian Anderson. Matthew has composed for the London Symphony Orchestra, members of the Philharmonia, BBC Symphony Orchestra and London Sinfonietta, and the Britten-Pears Contemporary Performance Ensemble amongst others.