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First live session July 12, 2026
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Live sessions with the instructor from 1:00 to 3:00pm Eastern U.S. time
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All sessions are recorded so you can watch them at your convenience
Music and Chivalric Culture at the Court of Edward III
This opening session explores music in the court of Edward III, one of the most notable monarchs of medieval England. We will examine how music accompanied chivalric culture, royal ceremony, and aristocratic entertainment during the 14th century. Special attention will be given to the Order of the Garter, court festivities, and the musicians who served the king, revealing how music helped project royal prestige and shape the identity of the medieval English court.
The Lancastrian Court: Henry IV, Henry V, and the Chapel Royal
This session examines music at the Lancastrian court during the reigns of Henry IV and Henry V, focusing on the important role of the Chapel Royal, the king’s primary musical institution. We will explore how royal musicians supported liturgical worship, political ceremony, and courtly display. The lecture will also consider England’s growing influence on continental European musical culture during the early 15th century.
Royal Piety and Chapel Foundations: Henry VI, Eton, and King’s College
Henry VI’s reign saw the creation of two important institutions: Eton College and King’s College, Cambridge. This session explores how royal foundations supported the creation of large chapel choirs, notably the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge.
The Wars of the Roses: The Yorkist Court of Edward IV
The Wars of the Roses transformed English political life but did not silence court culture. This week examines the court of Edward IV and England’s musical connections with Burgundy and continental Europe. We will explore how international influences helped introduce Renaissance musical styles into Late Medieval England’s royal and aristocratic circles.
Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and the Tudor Court
Henry VIII was not only a powerful monarch but also an accomplished musician and composer. This session explores music at the Tudor court, including songs preserved in the Henry VIII Manuscript. We will also examine music connected to Henry VIII’s second wife Anne Boleyn and introduce the composer Thomas Tallis, whose career began during Henry VIII’s reign and would span several Tudor monarchs.
Music through Reformation and Restoration: Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I
Our final session explores how music changed under the children of Henry VIII. During the Protestant reforms of Edward VI, church music was dramatically reshaped. Under Mary I, Catholic musical traditions briefly flourished again. Finally, the long reign of Elizabeth I produced one of the richest musical cultures of the Renaissance, with composers such as William Byrd navigating the religious and political transformations of Tudor England.
Meet Your Instructor
Sonja Maurer-Dass
Dr. Sonja Maurer-Dass is a Canadian musicologist and harpsichordist. She holds a PhD in Musicology from The University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario, Canada) and a master’s degree in Musicology specializing in late medieval English music from York University (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). Sonja has taught Baroque music history at McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) and undergraduate tutorials on different topics in musicology and music theory at The University of Western Ontario. Her work has been published in the Medieval Magazine, Ancient History Magazine, Ceræ: An Australasian Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, and Medievalists.net
No prior musical knowledge is required!
“Prof Maurer-Dass was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about music. Her energy and confidence created an atmosphere in which I felt like I could ask questions, and enjoyed learning a topic that I initially would not be very interested in. I never felt judged in her class, and I loved her positivity, and that she always has a smile on her face. I can tell that she worked really hard to prep materials for us and I am extremely grateful.”
