Music 101
ABOUT THE MUSIC 101 SERIES
Engage with history and enrich future concert experiences with Music 101—an introduction to the history of Western classical music, led by Michael Gerdes. An Associate Professor of Music and Director of Orchestras at San Diego State University and longtime Prelude lecturer for La Jolla Music Society, Gerdes brings his expertise and passion for music history to this new initiative.
This free, five-part public series is designed for anyone curious about the composers, works, and cultural movements that shaped the music we know and love. No prior musical background is needed. Each lecture builds on the previous one, yet every session stands on its own so you can join at any point in the series.
No tickets will be issued or required, but we ask that you kindly RSVP.
LECTURE SCHEDULE
(Except March)
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Jan. 27We’re All in the Mood for a Melody: Polyphony Through the Ages
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Feb. 24We’re All in This Together: The Reign of Homophony
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Mar. 17The Long and Winding Road: Music Takes Form
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Apr. 28Purple Rain: Color as the Joy of Listening
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May 26Go Your Own Way: After Sonata Form
SERIES INCLUDES
Tuesday, January 27 • 2 PM
We’re All in the Mood for a Melody: Polyphony Through the Ages
Tuesday, January 27 • 2 PM
Tuesday, February 24 • 2 PM
We’re All in This Together: The Reign of Homophony
Tuesday, February 24 • 2 PM
Tuesday, March 17 • 2 PM
The Long and Winding Road: Music Takes Form
This session is all about how music tells time. We’ll look at the building blocks of form—repetition, contrast, variation, and return—and how composers turn those basics into satisfying musical narratives. You’ll leave with practical “road-map” listening skills you can apply immediately in the concert hall: when to expect a return, how to hear transitions, and why endings feel earned.
Tuesday, March 17 • 2 PM
Tuesday, April 28 • 2 PM
Purple Rain: Color as the Joy of Listening
Melody and harmony get the headlines, but color is often what we remember. This lecture dives into musical timbre: the unique character of instruments, combinations, registers, and textures that create instant mood. We’ll learn how composers “orchestrate” ideas for maximum glow, bite, warmth, and shimmer—and how to listen for color as its own kind of storytelling.
Tuesday, April 28 • 2 PM
Tuesday, May 26 • 2 PM
Go Your Own Way: After Sonata Form
Sonata form dominated the classical era—but it didn’t last forever. In this capstone session, we explore what came next: how composers stretched, bent, and reinvented the traditional blueprint to fit new expressive needs. We’ll listen for the “giveaways” of experimentation—unexpected returns, transformed themes, and fresh large-scale designs—so you can hear innovation as it happens.
Tuesday, May 26 • 2 PM