Features Online Courses

Online Courses on Medieval Music

If you are interested in medieval music, we have six online courses starting up over the next three months. 

All of these courses are taught by Dr. Sonja Maurer-Dass, a Canadian musicologist and harpsichordist. Three are returning and three are brand new. Here they are:

Music in Medieval England

Beginning February 26th – Explore medieval England through its music, from sacred chant to polyphony and early keyboard works. Discover how composers moved the soul, inspired devotion, and influenced continental Europe. Highlights will include discussion of music from the Winchester Troper, Robertsbridge Codex, Old Hall Manuscript, and the distinctive ‘English manner’ of harmony.

Introduction to Medieval Music

Beginning March 1st - The history of music in Europe, sacred and secular, from its roots in Ancient Greece to the 14th century. Learn about chants and their use in the medieval mass, developments in musical notation and texture, instruments, styles, and composers.

Enchantment and Hidden Forces: Music, Power, and Occult Knowledge in Medieval Europe

Beginning March 19th - Step into medieval Europe, where music was believed to hold real power over the body, soul, and cosmos. From soaring sacred chants to lively dances, explore the hidden forces behind sound, its healing properties, and the fear it sometimes inspired.

A Voice of Her Own: Women's Contributions to Medieval Music

Beginning April 12th - Explore women’s important yet overlooked roles as composers, performers, patrons, and muses. This course brings their stories to life through convent music, courtly traditions, and lyrical analysis. Whether you are a medievalist, music lover, or curious about women’s contributions to society in the Middle Ages, this course invites you to hear medieval music with fresh ears and deeper understanding.

A Journey into Courtly Song: Exploring the Troubadours, Trobairitz, and Trouvères

Beginning April 18th - Explore the poet-composers of medieval France, the troubadours, trobairitz, and trouvères through their music, poetry, and the historical contexts that shaped their world, from glittering courts and crusades to shifting social and artistic traditions.

Anointed Sounds: Exploring Political Power and Religion in Medieval Music Manuscripts

Beginning May 24th - An exploration of medieval music and the intertwined powers of politics and religion. Through vivid manuscripts and wild tales of saints, kings, and even a corrupt horse, discover how song shaped faith, identity, and power.