Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique (1830) Flashcards
What style does Berlioz’ Sinfonie Fantastique come under?
Programme Music
What is the purpose/inspiration behind Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique?
It tells the story of an artist gifted with a lively imagination who has poisoned himself with opium in the depths of despair because of hopeless, unrequited love.
How many movements does Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique have?
It has 5 movements:
1. Rêveries – Passions (Daydreams – Passions)
2. Un bal (A Ball)
3. Scène aux champs (Scene in the Fields)
4. Marche au supplice (March to the Scaffold)
5. Songe d’une nuit du sabbat (Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath)
What is the key of movement 1 in Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique?
I. Rêveries – C minor/C Major
What can be observed about the movement plan?
There is a sense of symmetry with the tonality of the outer 2 movements, however, the inner movements don’t really follow a specific plan.
What is the woodwind used in the Symphonie Fantastique?
2 Flutes (1 dbl. Piccolo)
2 Oboes (1 dbl. Cor Anglais)
2 Clarinets (1 dbl. Eb Clarinet)
4 Bassoons
What can be learned through the woodwind instrumentation of the Symphonie Fantastique?
- Berlioz breaks from the double woodwind tradition with an increased use of bassoons (4 bassoons, instead of 2).
- He uses family doublings here - piccolo (popularised by Beethoven), cor anglais and Eb clarinet (using more ranges of clarinet became increasingly popular during this time period).
What can be learned about the brass instrumentation of the Symphonie Fantastique?
There is an increased use of brass for this symphony:
* Commonly brass would have the ‘double format’ but Berlioz uses 4 horns and 3 trombones breaking this mould.
* Ophicleides were a type of low register brass instrument used in the Symphonie Fantastique. This would be later replaced by the Tuba.
What can be learned about the percussion section of the Symphonie Fantastique?
He used quite an innovative use of percussion:
* Cymbals - were common
* Bells - were an unusual choice for the funeral toll aspects of the programme
* Bass drum created a heightened lower end in comparison to the timpani
How many musicians was the Symphonie Fantastique written for?
90 musicians
What observations can be made about the movements?
The movements are dictated by the overarching narrative of the story. It is worthwhile noting that there is a slower movement and a dance movement - however, it is neither a scherzo or minuet, it’s a waltz.
What observations about form can be made about Symphonie Fantastique?
The first movement, even though the work is programmatic, follows a quasi-sonata form style. The remaining movements tend to be driven through development of his idée fixe idea.
How is sonata form different in Symphonie Fantastique first movement to other first movement sonata forms?
- It has an exceptionally long intro - 71 bars with an 8 bar link into first subject.
- First subject longer than second (62 vs. 17 bars)
- Recapitulation is more a series of further developments, than a traditional recapitulation.
What melodic device is prevalent throughout Symphonie Fantastique?
Idée Fixe - is a recurring melody within program works. It acts as a ‘binding’ to pull together the form of the music and for the listener to make associations with previously heard material. Idée Fixe are regularly adapted and manipulated to change to the needs of the imagery it’s presenting.
What was Berlioz’ harmonic language like in the Symphonie Fantastique?
He was slightly more diatonic than some of his contemporaries. However he did employ more chromaticism than Haydn\Mozart. He often used chromatic melody lines to govern the harmony.
What evidence is there of Berlioz’ chromatic harmonic language?
Bar 22 - Movement I
Note the rising chromaticism within the harmony (Db-D-Eb-E). The harmony, particularly F#o7 resolving to C, shouldn’t work diatonically. It doesn’t because the internal chromaticism lead up to C Major.
