H. Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique- Reveries OM

Question 1

Strauss ‘Tristan und Isolde’- Melody

Answer 1

*Strauss uses leitmotifs to represent grief desire and love.
*Similar to Berlioz use of idee fixe to represent beloved.

Question 2

Schumann Piano Trio in G minor- Melody

Answer 2

*Begins by outlining notes of tonic G minor chord (descending)
*Berlioz idee fixe starts with upwards leaps to establish C major home key, followed by a stepwise sigh-like descent.

Question 3

Brahms Symphony no.4- Tonality

Answer 3

*Berlioz uses mainly diatonic tonality. Some passages are heavily chromatic with scales in parallel 8ves 3rds and 5ths- tonally ambiguous.
*Brahms also uses chromaticism in his development, however tonality is never lost.

Question 4

Strauss Till Eulenspiegel- Tonality

Answer 4

*Berlioz has not established a key at the end of development, he uses a 3 bar pause to reset harmony to D.
*Strauss uses this modulation to suddenly change from major to minor for his execution scene.

Question 5

Haydn Symphony no.104- Structure

Answer 5

*The exposition starts at b.72, both subjects use idee fixe as main melody giving monothematic feel.
*Haydn uses the same monothematic structure in his subjects modulating form D to Am.

Question 6

Schumann Piano Trio in G minor- Structure

Answer 6

*Berlioz challenges sonata form by using an extended intro and developing material in recapitulation and coda.
*Schumann prioritises the traditional elements of SF even though it is written 16 years after.

Question 7

Wagner ‘Tristan und Isolde’- Harmony

Answer 7

*Berlioz harmony is usually functional, but some unconventional non-functioning progressions are made with chromatic movement.
*Wagner’s prelude opens with the Tristan chord- this isn’t immediately resolved so creates harmonic tension and ambiguity.

Question 8

Strauss Alpine Symphony- Sonority

Answer 8

*Berlioz uses double woodwind- unconventionally doubling bassoons, horns and cornets in an attempt to bring his story to life.
*Strauss demands 130 players and uses unusual baritone oboe, wagner tuba and thunder sheet to directly create the sounds of his narrative.

Question 9

Strauss Till Eulenspiegel- Sonority

Answer 9

*Berlioz uses solo violin and flute to emphasise his idee fixe. He similarly does this in March to the Scaffold with a solo clarinet contrasting tutti chords.
*Strauss was inspired to similarly do this in his own execution scene by using a solo clarinet to contrast earlier tutti.

Question 10

Mussorgsky Pictures and an Exhibition- Texture

Answer 10

*Berlioz uses a monophonic texture to introduce the idee fixe at the end this has developed into a homophonic religious texture.
*In Promenade, a monophonic solo trumpet introduces the theme, this is altered to homophonic over the development.

Question 11

Beethoven Symphony No.9 Mvt.2- Texture

Answer 11

*Berlioz uses extreme textural changes with chromatic scales and tutti chords, a general pause and then a single horn pedal note.
*Beethoven uses similar contrasts by using soli strings, woodwind and then a sudden silence.

Question 12

When was Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel written?

Answer 12

1895

Question 13

When was Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde written?

Answer 13

1865

Question 14

When did Schumann write Piano Trio in G minor?

Answer 14

1846

Question 15

When did Brahms write Symphony No.4?

Answer 15

1885

Question 16

When did Haydn write Symphony No.104?

Answer 16

1795

Question 17

When did Beethoven write Symphony No.9?

Answer 17

1824

Question 18

When was Strauss’ Alpine Symphony written?

Answer 18

1915

Question 19

When did Mussorgsky write Pictures at an Exhibition?

Answer 19

1874