Symphonie Fantastique Flashcards
What is the name of the first movement and its meaning?
Rêveries - Passions
When was Symphonie Fantastique composed?
1830
What is the name given to the recurring melodic motif throughout movement 1?
Idée fixe
What is the piece said to represent?
Berlioz’s obsession over the actress Harriet Smithson.
What does the 2nd flautist change to at bar 409?
A piccolo (up an octave).
What does the woodwind section consist of and what is the transposition for each instrument?
2 Flutes (C)
1 Piccolo (C)
2 Oboes (C)
2 Clarinets (Bb) (Down Maj 2nd)
4 Bassoons (C).
What does the brass section consist of and what is the transposition for each instrument?
4 Horns: I, II (Eb) (Down Maj 6th), III, IV (C)
2 Trumpets (C)
2 cornets à pistons (G) (Down Per 4th)
What does the percussion section consist of and what is the tuning?
4 Timpani (two tuned to C and G) (Down Per 4th)
What does the string section consist of and what is the transposition of each instrument
At least 15 violins (2 staves) (C)
At least 10 violas (C)
At least 11 Cellos
At least 9 Double Basses
At the start, how do the strings play? What does it change to at bar 17?
Con sordino (With a rubber mute to reduce resonance).
Senza sordino (without mute).
What does it mean to play punta d’arco?
To play with the point or tip of the bow (a delicate effect).
The first subject theme (idée fixe) is directed to be played canto expressivo. What does this mean?
Expressively singing.
What does dolce mean?
Sweetly (seen at bar 150 for the 2nd subject).
What is the texture like?
Highly varied and changes frequently.
Uses a lot of Mel-Dom-Hom.
What is the structure of Movement 1?
Slow introduction (1-63)
Link to sonata section (64-71)
Exposition (71^4-167)
Development (166-231)
Recapitulation (232- End)
Coda (475-End)
