1 / 18

Exploring Romantic Program Music with Symphonies and Operas

Delve into the world of Romantic music with symphonies by Beethoven, Schubert, and Berlioz, exploring emotions, stories, and political statements through program music. Discover Tchaikovsky's iconic works and more.

clint
Download Presentation

Exploring Romantic Program Music with Symphonies and Operas

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Bell Ringer – 1/14 • M.socrative.com – Room #38178 • QUESTIONS: • (1) What created emotion in music? • (2) How did the orchestra change?

  2. Romantic Music 2 Program Music, Symphonies, Operas

  3. Symphonies! • Already talked about Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 • Symphonies were now being written in the manner of Beethoven’s 9, and even further challenged the orchestra in new ways.

  4. Symphonies • Schubert also wrote symphonies • Most famous: Symphony No. 8 “The Unfinished Symphony” • Started in 1822, but only has 2 complete movements • Most symphonies have 4 movements (fast, slow, dance, fast) • The third movement exists in piano score, with only two pages orchestrated • Why do you think it wasn’t finished?

  5. Schubert’sUnfinished symphony • First Movement • In sonata form, but almost a minuet and trio as it is in triple meter • Opening clarinet melody is VERY famous

  6. Hector Berlioz • The other symphony we’ll explore is Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique • It is a symphony, but it is also program music

  7. Program Music • Romantic composers structured their longer works around a non-musical story, a picture, or some other idea • Also known as “descriptive” music • Not entirely new, but really takes off in the Romantic period (most popular during this period) • The Romantic period is known as “the age of program music”

  8. Program Music - Berlioz • Hector Berlioz (1803-1869), French • SymphonieFantastique (1830) • Involves a single motive that ties all five movements together • The story involves a hero who has poisoned himself because of unrequited love. However, the drug only sends him into semi-consciousness, in which he has hallucinations.

  9. SymphonieFantastique • Movement 1: “Reveries” and “Passions” • Typical “love and longing” number • Movement 2: “A Ball” • Movement 3: “In the Country” • Movement 4: “March to the Scaffold” • What is a scaffold? • Movement 5: “Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath” • 4:00

  10. SymphonieFantastique • Movement 4: March to the Scaffold • The hero dreams he has killed his beloved and is about to be executed • The motif returns at the end of the movement and is abruptly shattered by the fall of the axe • 4:00 • The fast pizzicato notes from the strings represent his head rolling down the stairs • The chords that follow represent the cheers from the crowd!

  11. Night on bald mountain • By Modest Mussorgsky • 1839-1881, Russian • “Bald Mountain” is the home of the Devil • Its creatures are coming to worship it • It was arranged and first performed after his death in 1881 by his friend Rimsky-Korsakov • It premiered in 1886 • Night on Bald Mountain - Fantasia

  12. Political Statements • Composers also wrote with the political circumstances of the century in mind • Folk tunes appear in these works as themes, as do local rhythms and harmonies • The exaltation of national identity was consistent with Romantic requirements • Occurs in the music of 19th century Russia, Spain, Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, and Austria

  13. Tchaikovsky • Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) • Russian (but of Western music traditions) • Went to law school, and worked for the government, but quit to play music • Some of his pieces rate amongst the most popular concert and theatrical music in the repertoire

  14. 1812 Overture • Commemorates Russia’s defense of Moscow against Napoleon • The Russian and French anthems are going to head to head. • In the finale, cannons fire, ringing chimes, and brass fanfares • The Russian music triumphs! • Includes a full choir • 1812 Overture Finale • The Boston Pops plays it on the 4th of July every year • Ending (2:30)

  15. Romeo and Juliet • Tchaikovsky – program music without the political overtones • Based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet • Romeo & Juliet (9:00)

  16. Tchaikovsky’s ballets • Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most famous ballets of all time • The Nutcracker • Swan Lake • We will study these in the dance section of our unit

  17. Pieces to Know • Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 • Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 New • Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet • Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture • Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain • Berlioz’s SymphonieFantastique March to the Scaffold • Schubert’s “Unfinished Symphony”

  18. Piece Naming Practice • 1. Franz Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (7:07) • 2. First Movement“Unfinished” (beginning) • 3. Romeo & Juliet (9:00) • 4. Chopin Nocturne Op.9 No.2 (Beginning) • 5. Night on Bald Mountain - Fantasia(1:25) • 6. 1812 Overture Finale(3:00) • 7. Movement 4: March to the Scaffold(1:30)

More Related