This coming February, 2024 will mark the 60th Anniversary of the Beatles coming to America. Their appearances on the Ed Sullivan show and live performances took the country by storm. We soon learned why England was so appreciative of their talent. The Beatles dominated the music scene while they remained together in the 60s, and their music is still played and covered by a plethora of aspiring and established artists.
This course will, of course, look at their music, but also try to see why Time magazine included them in its list of the twentieth century's 100 most important people. How could that be? Did they really change our world view, how we looked and how we looked at others - their influence on culture?
Often overlooked when people listen to Beatles is the transition their music took. How in a very brief time their music went from a very good Rock ‘n’ Roll band to being covered by orchestras from the Boston Pops to the London Symphony. There has to be something more to the music than “Rock ‘n’ Roll is Here To Stay…” Let’s try to explore what makes the London Symphony perform the Beatles. There is somewhat of a tie to classical music.
This course should prepare us for all the conversations which will come up when talking with friends about the 60th Anniversary. It will take us down many fond memories of the 1960s - a time of Camelot, Tragedy and Idealism. If nothing else we should be able to hold our own when it comes to Beatle Trivia!!!
Instructor - Peter Reilly
Peter Reilly lives in Belfast and has taught at Belfast Senior College for over 10 years. He has a BS and MBA from Monmouth University.
