Romantic Flashcards
Full title of SF by berlioz
Symphonie Fantastique-Episode de la vie d’un artiste
Symphonie Fantastique
genre:
Date composed:
Instrumentation
genre: program symphonie
date: 1830
instrumentation: full orchestra, plus 4 timpani, 2 harps, 2 ophicleides, bells
What is the inspiration for Symphonie Fantastique
And describe the program for each movement
infatuation with actress harriet smith
1st movement: in a drugged stupor he recalls the passion his beloved ignited in him
2nd movement: dreams he attends a ball where he glimpses his beloved
3rd movement: in the countryside in search of tranquility, he listens to the piping of shepherds nd thinks of his beloved, soul is full of foreboding
4th movement: dreams he has killed his beloved and is marched to the scaffold for execution
5th movement: in a hideous gathering of sorcerers who celebrate at his funeral
what is the idee fixee
the idea fixee is a main theme represents the beloved and appears in each movement in various guises
name the 5 movements from Symphonie Fantastique
1 Reveries, Passions 2 A Ball 3 Scene in the Fields 4 March to the Scaffold 5 Dream of a Witches' Sabbath
Symphonie Fantastique - 5th movement
key:
Tempo:
Time signature
key: C minor
tempo: begins larghetto, later changes to allegro
time: begins in 4/4
what is the mood of symphonie fantastique 5th movement and how is it created
ominous, eerie, diabolical.
depicted by rapid ascending notes in cellos and basses, portamento and pizzicato
describe the idee fixee in the 5th movement of SF
played by the clarinet in 6/8 time- gigue like, dance rhythm, with trills and grace notes, depicting now a vulgar and grotesque dance tune
how is the dance of the witches foreshadowed
ominous chiming of the bells,
moves to C minor, the bassoons and ophicleides solemnly play the dies irae
how is the sound of the dance of the witches created
moves to C major, stbbing syncopated chords and dissonance
who wrote madama butterfly?
puccini
what is the genre of madama butterlfy
Italian verismo opera
what is the source of the plot of madama butterfly?
based on a play by David Belasco
what is the setting of Madama butterfly
set in Nagasaki japan in a house on a hill, about 1900
who are the librettists for madama butterfly
giaoso, illica
when and where did madama butterfly premiere
1904 paris
who are the main characters in madama butterfly
ciocio san, aka butterfly, 15 year old geisha
Suzuki, butterflys housekeeper and friend
pinkerton, lieutenant in us navy
sharpless- us consul in nagsaki
who are some secondary characters in madam butterfly
kate pinkerton-pinkertons American wife
trouble- butterflys son
describe the plot of madam butterfly
ciocio san falls in love with pinkerton. she becomes his child bride. he returns to US, butterfly is pregnant. he returns 3 years later to take his son back to his new American wife.
butterfly has given up her family, and her religion for pinkerton, and now she gives up her son. she commit suicide
how does madam butterfly display exoticism
set in japan
storyline based on what actually occurred in japan
how is madam butterfly an example of verismo
tells a story of everyday people, ends in tragedy of butterflys suicide
how does madam butterfly display romanticism
rubato, pentatonic and whole tone scales
homophonic texture
verismo theme
full use of orchestra
Un Bel Di Vedremo
genre
structure
key
aria
abac
G flat major
un bel di a section tempo time opening lyrics texture
andante molto calmo
3/4 time
begins “un bel di vedremo….”
homophonic texture
describe the a section of un bel di
begins high, slowly works its way down -characteristics of puccinis style.
uses violinata -orchestral doubling of the vocal line
rubato through continual change of tempo (rit, rall)
un bel di section
time sig.
opening lyrics
changes to 2/4
opens with “I wander to the crest of the hill…”
describe the musical features of the B section of un bel di
melody uses minor pentatonic scale, implying a change to F minor
marked Con Semplicita
recitative-like parlando style, achieved though fast repeated notes often on the same pitch
Describe how the return of the A is different in Un Bel Di
marked Con Forza. High G flat on word “die” foreshadowing the tragedy to come
same melody as A section but delivered with ‘quasi parlando’ effect of the B section
describe the C section of un bel di
maintains the recitative-like style
melody rises, builds in pitch and volume to the climactic high b flat as butterfly says she “will wait for him.”
Schubert
dates and birthplace
1797-1828
Vienna, Austria
describe schuberts early life
played violin in family string quartet
attended Imperial Chapel choir school because of his beautiful voice
taught by slalieri
describe schuberts early career
began writing songs in late teens
worked as a feelance musician in Vienna, lived in poverty
briefly worked for esterhazy family
was Schubert widely acknowledged
no,, but he had a close circle of friends and admirers, including Vogl
musical evenings showcasing his works became known as Schubertiades
Describe schuberts musical style
combines classical and romantic traits
vocal lyricism
influenced by Mozart, Beethoven, german romantic poets like Goethe
closely connects text and music in art songs, using harmony to highlight key words
deep personal emotions reflected in his works
How does Schuberts style combine both classical and romantic traits?
classical: formal structures, symmetrical phrasing
romanticism: chromatic harmony, unexpected modulations
Schuberts musical contributions
increased the role of the piano in art songs- piano depicts specific element of the poem
introduced new psychological intensity into into songs and song cycles
name some of schuberts genres and titles
600 lieder, ie Ave MAria, ode to music song cyles, ie die Wintereisse chamber music, ie Trout quintet 9 symphonies operas piano works choral music
Chopin dates and place of birth
1810-1849, zelazowa wola, poland
describe chopins early lfie
child prodigy, first concert age 6, first work published at age 7
lessons with Elsner
spent summers in polish countryside where he was exposed to folk music and traditions
Where did Chopin move to from Poland
settled in Paris after Poland was invaded. Expressed patriotism in nationalistic music such as mazurkas and polonaises but never returned to Poland
what important people did chopin meet in paris
liszt, berlioz, writer victor hugo
how did chopin primarily make money
teaching aristocrats and publishing piano compositions
who is George Sand?
chopin had a love affair with writer George sand (aurore dudevant). wrote many significant works in this time but the relationship ended bitterly after 10 years.
describe chopins musical style
wrote almost exclusively for the piano
bel canto style- long passages, embellishments, ornaments
explored new harmonic language- chormaticism, unexpected modulations
exploited capabilities of the piano
improvisatory style
nationalism in music
Berlioz dates and place of birth
1803-1869
cote saint andre france
describe berlioz early life
began music studies at age of 12, learned guitar and flute, but not piano
studied medicine in paris, disappointed parents when he quit medical school for his true passion -music
what happened to berlioz in 1826
entered the paris conservatoire
when did berlioz enter the paris conservatoire
1826
what 2 important things happened to berlioz in 1830
premiere of symphonie fantastique launched his career
won the prix de rome (and had to moved to rome)
when did berlioz win the prix de rome
1830
who was Berlioz friends with
Franz Liszt
who was berlioz’s first wife
Shakespearean actress Harriet Smithson
what are some things Berlioz wrote (not music)
biography of Beethoven, essays on his 9 symphonies
grant traite d’instrumentation et d’orchestration modernes
autobiography, memoires
what award did Berlioz win in france
legion d’honneur
what did Berlioz do besides write music
he was a writer, critic and author
describe berlioz’ style
highly individual, dramatic power, influenced by Beethoven
non pianist, freely explored orchestral writing on his own terms
influenced by Shakespeare, Byron, Goethe
vivid and original orchestration, using unusual instrumental effects
embraced programmatic writing
describe Berlioz’s musical contributions
expanded the size and makeup of the orchestra, often specifying grandiose performing forces
preffered large scle forms such as symphony, oratorio
advocated Music of the Future (with liszt and wagner) - incorporating chromatic harmony, thematic transformations and cyclical forms
berlioz genres
program symphony - ie symphony fantastique, Harold in Italy
concert overture- king lear
operas- les troyens, Beatrice et benedict
choral works- ta deum, requiem
oratorio: l’enfance du Christ
Song cycle
