Symphonic Poem

Question 1

Liszt

Answer 1

Forefront of composers who were committed to striking out in completely new directions during the nineteenth century, largely abandoned traditional forms such as the symphony

Question 2

Symphonic poem

Answer 2

A single movement composition of symphonic proportions which focuses on the exploration of a single idea, poetic content

Question 3

Mazeppa

Answer 3

Transcendental Etude for piano

Question 4

Descending diminished 7th chords

Answer 4

In the opening étude require a large hand span from the pianist as well as strength of tone to play them as Liszt would have intended at the start of this dramatic programmatic piece
Enables the music to convey a sense of peril and tension as well as preparing the listener for what will be an exciting and virtuosic journey of the hero in this journey

Question 5

Ability to write for an orchestra

Answer 5

Final version of piano étude led to the orchestrated symphonic poem mazeppa

Question 6

Chromaticism intro

Answer 6

Use of chromaticism in the introduction to convey the tension of the journey which is beginning

Question 7

Chromaticism

Answer 7

The chromaticism resulting
from the juxtaposition of the dominant-ninth chords in the first and second sequences becomes
obvious in the third sequence where the roots are dropped and the ‘vagrant’ diminished-seventh
chord becomes the pivot for more distant relationships between the key centres. Having established
a turbulent introductory milieu with harmonic instability, Liszt uses the last four bars (bb. 32-35) to
stress the dominant-ninth of D minor which will make a perfect cadence into the following section.

Question 8

Smetana

Answer 8

Vltava modau 1874 to convey the programme of the symphonic poem

Question 9

Opening flute melody

Answer 9

Ripple is played by the first flute is repeated in the second bar. Helps to portray the glimpse of the river in the far distance as the repetition acts like an echo

Question 10

Bars 10-35

Answer 10

The flute ascends then descends, rising and falling like the water in a river would

Question 11

Smetana harmony

Answer 11

Create tension and suspense heard in bars 12-14 in the chord progression IB, dim, dim7,vb

Question 12

Rachmanioff

Answer 12

Also used musical techniques to convey the movement of water in his symphonic poem isle of the dead

Question 13

Mètre

Answer 13

Composed in 5/8 to help portray the gentle uneven sloshing of the boat as it crosses the waters of the afterlife.

Question 14

Dies irae

Answer 14

Créâtes a haunting feeling Fragments of the Dies irae, the ancient Latin
chant of the dead, emerge throughout the piece. For example, a brass chorale is heard, which
plays much more to the funeral idea of the piece. The chorale is based on the Dies irae.
making it all the more haunting.