Minicourse-“Bach, Handel, Vivaldi: Masters of the Baroque” by Dr Robert Butts

“Bach, Handel, Vivaldi: Masters of the Baroque” by Dr Robert Butts, Professor, Conductor and Composer, will begin Tuesday afternoon from 1:30-3:00 pm on June 2, 2026, and continue for five consecutive weeks. Each lecture is for one and one-half hours on June 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2026.

The minicourses are organized by the all-volunteer Friends of the Madison Public Library, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. All proceeds benefit the Madison Public Library. The tuition is $95. To register, visit our website, www.friendsmadisonnjlibrary.org/minicourse-registration. For more information, email the Friends at minicoursesmadisonlibrary@gmail.com, or leave a message at 929-450-7940.

Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, and Antonio Vivaldi – three of the most familiar names in the history of music and three of the most important composers of the Baroque period (1700-1750). Although they were contemporaries, their lives were quite different. Bach never strayed far, working for many years in Leipzig in his job at the Thomaskirche. Vivaldi traveled, but for a long time worked at the Ospedale della pieta in Venice. Handel was one of history’s most cosmopolitan composers, traveling across Europe many times. Bach was most famous for his keyboard and sacred choral music. Handel was most famous for his operas and oratorios. Vivaldi was most famous for his instrumental music. For over 250 years, audiences have been thrilled by the music of all three masters of The Baroque.

Dr Robert Butts has won acclaim as conductor, composer, and educator. He is the founder and director of the Baroque Orchestra of NJ, now in its 30^th season. He teaches at Montclair State University, the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies at Drew University, NJ Council for the Humanities and Saint Elizabeth University. He has conducted major orchestra and opera performances throughout NJ and the US, as well as guest appearances in Romania, the Czech Republic, Russia, Italy, and England. Dr. Butts received his M.A. in Musicology from the University of Iowa with a specialty in 17th and 18th century music and a D.M.A. in conducting from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. He also studied conducting at Julliard with Maestro La Selva.

The Friends honored Dr Butts on March 21 for teaching for 30 years in our minicourse program. His awards include the 2019 Artist of the Year Award by the New York Classical Music Society; the 2019 Exemplary Leader Award from the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, the 2016 Tourism Award from the Morris County Tourism Bureau, the 2015 Comcast Newsmaker Award from Comcast, and the 2015 Honored Artist Award.