Analysis Seminar - May 2024
Sonata-Allegro

In 1918, Debussy completed his penultimate work : the Cello Sonata.; clocking in at a tidy 11 minutes. The same exact year, Vaughn Williams completed his Second Symphony which needs about 45 minutes to experience. Both of these pieces have the exact same form.

What is it about the Sonata that is so enduring? How can it be so stretched by some composers and condensed by others? In four short lectures we will walk through the evolution of the Sonata from it’s origins in the Baroque through to its 20th Century descendants.

Classes meet via Zoom each Tuesday at 7:30 pm ET. All courses are recorded and available for a-synchronous watching or repeat viewings. Some students will wish to interact during the session, others will watch at their own time and pace. Everyone is welcome!

Analysis Seminar Schedule

5/7 The Monolith: Bach WTC Book 2 F Major Prelude

5/14 The Temple: Mozart Keyboard Sonata K.332

5/21 The Skyscraper: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 8 ‘Pathetique’

5/28 The Spaceship: Debussy Violin Sonata

Cost for all 4 sessions: $360 Cost for each individual seminar: $100 each

Analysis Seminar - Spring 2024
Chopin Nocturnes

Chopin didn’t invent the Nocturne, but he placed it front and center into our consciousness.

This Spring 2024, Dr. Boyle offered a 12 week immersive study of 12 of the 18 Chopin Nocturnes published in his lifetime. Topics covered included: formal design, modality, melodic construction, hyper-metricity, contrapuntal analysis, harmonic modeling, and the general manipulation of time. The seminar is designed for the professional-level Composer, Pianist, or Chopin Enthusiast!

All seminars are available for purchase now!

1/22 Op. 9 No. 1 Bb minor
1/29 Op. 9 No. 2 Eb Major
2/5 Op. 9 No. 3 B Major
2/12 Op. 15 No. 3 G Major
2/17 Op. 27 No. 1 C# minor
2/26 Op. 27 No. 2 Db Major
3/4 Op. 48 No. 1 C minor
3/11 Op. 48 No. 2 F# minor
3/18 Op. 55 No. 1 F minor
3/25 Op. 55 No. 2 Eb Major
4/1 Op. 62 No. 1 B Major
4/8 Op. 62 No. 2 E Major