Symphonies

Question 1

Symphonie Pathetique

Answer 1

Tchaikovsky - 1893

• use of tuba - recently invented
• extreme dynamics (pppppp)
• 4 movements

Question 2

Faust Symphony

Answer 2

Liszt - 1857

• creates musical portraits of the three main characters (faust, Gretchen, mephistopheles)
• individual leitmotifs for each character appear in different movements as the characters interact
• unusual orchestration - organ, harp, TTB choir, tenor solo

Question 3

New World Symphony

Answer 3

Dvorak - 1893

• Limited use of tuba (2nd movement only)
• 4 movements
• commissioned work by new York philharmonic
• inspired by pentatonic scale used by native americans and Indians
• inspired by African American rhythms

Question 4

Romeo and juliet

Answer 4

Tchaikovsky - 1969

• using a literary stimulus
• symphonic poem with intro and epilogue
• 3 main themes (Friar Lawrence’s Piety, Montagues and Capulet’s battle, Romeo and Juliets romance)

Question 5

Finlandia

Answer 5

Sibelius - 1899

• Nationalist
• Turbulent music evokes struggle for finnish people
• ends with serene hymn section
• tone poem

Question 6

Grande Symphonie Funebre et triomphale

Answer 6

Berlioz - 1840

• composed specifically for wind band
• commissioned by French Government
• 3 movements (Funeral March, Funeral Ovation, Apotheosis)
• Choir ad lib.

Question 7

Von der Wiege bis zum Grabe

Answer 7

Liszt - 1874

• symphonic poem
• 3 movements ( the cradle, the struggle for life, in the tomb, cradle of the thereafter)
• ends with solo cello passage

Question 8

Moldau

Answer 8

Smetana - 1874

• symphonic poem
• describes the course of the Vtlava river from two small streams to where it meets the Labe
• describe the Czech countryside as the river passes through
• use of harp, tuba and piccolo
• music paints pictures, eg. ripples of water from bassline under main melody