Romantic Symphonies

Question 1

Typical Symphony structure

Answer 1

1 - Fast, sonata form
2 - Slow movement
3 - Minuet and trio, later a scherzo
4 - Fast, rondo form

Question 2

Symphonie fantastique

Answer 2

Berlioz - 1830
5 movements
Each movement is programmatic
90 instruments including 2 harps
Each movement is telling a different story with different emotions and styles

Question 3

Faust symphony

Answer 3

Liszt - 1857
Based on a German legend with 3 main characters
3 movements, each one paints a portrait of the characters
Motifs for each characters
Uses a male TTB choir with tenor solo to conclude

Question 4

New World Symphony

Answer 4

Dvorak - 1893
Uses the same structure as a traditional symphony but 1st movement is adagio not allegro
Commissioned piece by New York Philharmonic
Inspired by Native and African-American themes

Question 5

Schumann’s Symphony no.3

Answer 5

Schumann - 1850
5 movements
2nd movement uses a theme + variation with minuet + trio structure
3rd movement uses static harmony which is a new type of harmony for the time
4th movement - ‘Cathedral’ theme is adapted throughout

Question 6

Symphony in C

Answer 6

Wagner - 1832

Traditional symphony style

Question 7

Brahms symphony no 4

Answer 7

Brahms - 1884

4 movements
3/4 movements in E minor which is unusual
First movement sonata is modified in order to drive the piece forward as returning to the exposition hinders progress
4th movement is a passacaglia which is a Baroque structure that Brahms was inspired by in the past