The hammerblow introduction to Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ Symphony and the iconic four-note opening motif of the 5th Symphony, the unresolved start of Wagner’s Tristan & Isolde, the sensuously meandering melody that begins Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, and the identical fanfare that opens both Monteverdi’s opera Orfeo and his 1610 Vespers.
This lecture looks at how composers of all periods have risen to the challenge of how to write a memorable musical opening sentence.
Jeremy is Visiting Gresham Professor of Music History.
He is Director of Music at the London church of St Luke’s, Chelsea and a Supervisor for the Music Tripos at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge.
He has delivered the annual Christmas carol service at Gresham College since 2014. In 2019, he was made Visiting Professor of Music History.
Professor Summerly's lecture series are as follows:
2021/22 Music and Emotion
2020/21 100 Years of BBC Radio
2019/20 Making Music
All lectures by the Visiting Professor of Music History can be accessed here.
