Instrumental Music - Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique Movement 1 Flashcards
When was Symphonie Fantastique composed?
1830
What type of music is Symphonie Fantastique an example of?
Programmatic music
Who composed SF?
Hector Berlioz
Who was Berlioz?
French Composer = highly influential in development of Romantic music. He was heavily influenced by Beethoven.
How was Berlioz influential in development of Romantic music?
- Wrote on a much larger scale than previously
- increased size of the orchestra
- new innovative methods of orchestration
What is the story of Symphonie Fantastique?
Story of a talented artist who poisons himself with opium because of his despair over his unrequited love
What is the story of movement 1 of Symphonie fantastique?
A young musician afflicted by ‘sickness of spirit’ sees his ideal woman/love of his life for the first time
What is the overall structure of the Symphony?
Made up of 5 movements (not the conventional 4) 1 - Reveries 2 - Un bal 3 - Scene aux champs 4 - Marche au supplice 5 - Songe d’une nuit du sabbat
What is the overall structure of Symphonie Fantastique mvt 1?
Structured in sonata form, preceded by a very slow intro section (of around 70 bars).
Describe the specific structure of Mvt 1 SF
Slow introduction Exposition (repeated) Development Recapitulation Coda
Describe the structure of the exposition SF
1st subject in tonic key
Transition (modulating)
2nd subject in related key
Codetta in key of 2nd subject
What is the overall instrumentation of Symphonie fantastique?
Written for a VERY large symphony orchestra with numerous instrumental additions. (Groundbreaking for time)
Describe the specific instrumentation of strings in movement 1 SF
Strings begin con sord then become senza sord Strings are written both pizz and arco Moments of a punta d’arco Double stopping and divisi strings Tremolo strings
Describe the specific instrumentation of percussion in movement 1 SF
Timpanist uses both wooden and sponge sticks
Describe how Berlioz used performance instructions
Berlioz wrote very detailed performance instructions for all instruments:
i.e. legato, staccato, portato, semi-staccato
How does the texture begin, and how does it change? SF
Begins monophonic, but becomes melody dominated homophony once rest of orchestra joins in.
What is the overall texture of Symphonie fantastique?
Highly varied textures throuhgout
What is the overall melody of Symphonie fantastique?
Idee fixe is central to melodic writing (heard in all 5 movements) and is passed around the orchestra. Also lots of chromaticism in melodies Uses repeating ‘sigh’ motif Lots of ornamentation Wide tessitura Extreme leaps in the melody
What is the Idee fixe?
The theme that represents the girl the character is in love with/ his love for her.
How is the Idee fixe made?
Starts on the dominant and expands a leap of a perfect fourth then maj 6th
Descends in conjunct sigh like motif (repeated again down a 4th)
Ascending sequence increased tension
What is the overall tonality of Symphonie Fantastique ?
Starts in c minor changing to tonic major c
Tonality frequently obscured by chromaticism
Modulates to Ab major
C maj finally reached after much chromatic movement
What is the tonality of the introduction of Symphonie Fantastique?
C minor changing to c maj
What is the tonality of the development section of Symphonie Fantastique?
Starts G maj but very chromatic obscuring tonality
What is the tonality of the recapitulation section?
Starts G maj
Much chromatic movement then reestablishes G maj
Closes in original c maj
What is the overall use of harmony in Symphonie Fantastique?
Chords are diatonic and functional Emphasis on chromatic harmony Frequent cadences Tonic/dominant pedals used Some dissonance in use of suspensions Extended chords
Where and why are cadences used in the Symphonie fantastique
Perfect cadences are frequent to confirm modulation
Plagal cadences are in a series and end the movement
What is the overall metre of Symphonie fantastique?
Begins in 4/4 common time
Time sig changes to 2/2 towards end of introduction
What is the overall tempo of Symphonie fantastique?
Tempo changes frequently:
- begins at slow largo tempo
- becomes more lively shortly into intro
- allegro agitato e appasionato assai established towards end of intro
What is the overall rhythm of Symphonie fantastique?
Varied rhythms throughout! Some examples include: - quaver triplets to begin - crotchet triplets towards end - use of sextuplet semiquaver - Idee fixe begins with anacrusis - use of cross rhythms - syncopation for dramatic effect - moto perpetuo crotchets
Which instruments introduce the Idee fixe?
Unaccompanied violin 1 playing in unison and solo flute introduce Idee fixe.
How is Berlioz’s use of orchestration imaginative?
Started to give more independence to woodwind which would originally have only used to support/fill out chords.
What is the Key texture of Symphonie fantastique?
Melody dominated homophony
What other textures are creates in Symphonie fantastique that are less key?
Homophonic, chordal texture created
Idee fixe always presented in unison texture
Dialogue created as melody is passed between strings
What is the overall use of dynamics in Symphonie fantastique?
Very large dynamic range: from ppp to ff
Large use of crescendos and diminuendos
Use of sudden sf markings to accent
Finishes ppp in religiosamente section
Why does Berlioz create such dynamic extremes?
Dynamics used to build tension (Especially in tutti section)
Also adds to storyline of programmatic work - sudden dynamic changes reflect mental turmoil of movement
How does Berlioz use rests for effect?
Intro = uses rests and rests with pauses creating a feeling of uncertainty and fragmenting the melodic line
3 bars of silence towards end of development section
How does Berlioz conclude the movement?
Concludes the movement with longer rhythms: ie. tied semibreves
