Works Trivia Flashcards
1
Q
Year of Wagner’s Die Walkure:
A
1870 (first performance in Munich); 1876 (first performance of Der Ring des Nibelungen in Festival Theatre in Bayreuth)
2
Q
Characteristics of Mahler’s Symphony no. 4:
A
contains some of Mahler’s most joyful and luminous passages
3
Q
Year of Messiaen’s Quatuor pour la fin du temps:
A
1941
4
Q
Which Part work are we studying?
A
Cantate Domino canticum novum (O sing to the Lord a new song)
5
Q
Specific form of Mahler’s Symphony no. 4:
A
can be viewed as modified strophic wit a rondo-like design
6
Q
Tempo of Part’s Cantate Domino canticum novum:
A
slower tempo
7
Q
Which Tchaikovsky work are we studying?
A
Romeo and Juliet Overture
8
Q
Performing forces of Schoenberg’s Pierrot lunaire:
A
- set for a female reciter (mezzo soprano in German-translated from the original French) and a chamber music ensemble of 5 players using 8 instruments: piano, flute/piccolo, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin/viola, and cello
- Der Mondfleck uses voice, piccolo, clarinet in B flat, violin, cello, and piano
9
Q
Which Brahms work are we studying?
A
Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) - fourth Movement: Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place, O Lord of Hosts!)
10
Q
Which Mendelssohn work are we studying?
A
Violin Concerto in e minor, op. 64, first movement
11
Q
Performing forces of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite:
A
large orchestra with expanded percussion
12
Q
Historical context of Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Overture:
A
- romantic composers drawn to the works of Shakespeare, particularly to Romeo and Juliet
- often referred to as a overture-fantasy
13
Q
Performing forces of Brahm’s Ein deutsches Requiem:
A
soprano and baritone soloists, SATB 4-part chorus, orchestra
14
Q
Historical context of Messiaen’s Quatuor pour la fin du temps:
A
- created against the dismal background of a prisoner of war camp (WWII), as he was drafted into the French army and capture by Germans in 1940
- among the prisoners were 3 other French musicians: a violinist, a cellist, and a clarinetist. Wrote chamber music piece for them, soon added piano part
- composing this helped sustain him through this time
- concert took place in 1941 in front of 5000 prisoners from France, Belgium, and other countries
15
Q
“Wozzeck” juxtaposes the characters how?
A
- juxtaposes the realistic characters of Wozzeck and Marie against a back drop of “types”-characters sketched so broadly that they are almost cartoonish in their make up (The Captain, The Doctor, and The Drum Major)
- contrast adds much needed humour and allows the audience to empathize more easily with the main characters
16
Q
Historical context of Verdi’s La Traviata:
A
- initially considered a failure
- Violetta is one of the most beloved characters in Italian opera. Verdi was moved to write some of his most beautiful bel canto melodies for this character
17
Q
Characters of Verdi’s La Traviata:
A
- Violetta Valery (coloratura soprano): a courtesan in 19th century Paris
- Alfredo Germont (tenor): a young aristocrat
- Giorgio Germont (baritone): Alfredo’s father
- Baron Douphol (baritone): Violetta’s lover
- Flora Bervoix (mezzo soprano): Violetta’s friend
18
Q
Performing forces of Ligeti’s Atmospheres:
A
large orchestra without percussion
19
Q
Specific form of Brahm’s Ein deutsches Requiem:
A
- Rondo Form (A-B-A’-C-A”)
- lyrical choral melody unifies 5-part rondo structure
20
Q
Specific form of Schumann’s Dichterliebe:
A
- strophic
- first 3 verses are set to the same music (strophic)
- strophic structure altered in 4th verse
21
Q
Tempo of Ravel’s Jeux d’eau:
A
allegretto
22
Q
Form of Ravel’s Jeux d’eau:
A
- resembles sonata form
- based on 2 motives in the manner of a first movement of a sonata, without subjecting itself to the Classical tonal plan
23
Q
Tempo of Schoenberg’s Pierrot lunaire:
A
- Der Mondfleck: Sehr rasche (very quickly)
- O alter Duft aus Märchenzeit: Bewegt (with motion)
24
Q
Genre of Brahm’s Ein deutsches Requiem:
A
Sacred choral music
25
General structure of Wagner's Die Walkure:
3 acts
26
General structure of Liszt's La Campanella:
set of 6 masterpieces for piano
27
Year of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture:
1870 first premiere date
28
Genre of Webern's Symphony op. 21:
- orchestral music, chamber symphony
- although title reflects a genre popularized by the first Viennese School, the work itself represents a departure from 18th and 19the century symphonic practice
29
Genre of Ravel's Jeux d'eau:
solo piano work
30
Which Prokofiev work are we studying?
Romeo and Juliet, Suite no. 2, op. 64- Act I Scene 4: "The Montagues and Capulets: The Capulet Ball"
31
Performing forces of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto:
solo violin and orchestra
32
Genre of Smetana's Vltava:
symphonic poem (tone poem)
33
Source of text for Wagner's Die Walkure:
A fusion of Norse mythology and an epic medieval poem called the “Nibelungenlied” (The Song of the Nibelungs): a complex story involving gods and mortals
34
Characteristics of Liszt's La Campanella:
- transcended the limitations of the keyboard
- main theme requires light touch (staccato) to imitate bell
- highly virtuosic style
- each variation builds and becomes more elaborate and faster than the previous until dramatic closing in loud octaves
35
Meter of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suite:
- 4/4 in introduction, A section, A' section
| - 3/4 in B section
36
Meter of Schumann's Dichterliebe:
2/4
37
Year of Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire:
1912
38
Source of text of Ravel's Jeux d'eau:
includes an excerpt of a poem by Henri de Regnier which translates as "The river god laughs at the water as it tickles him"
39
Tempo of Brahm's Ein deutsches Requiem:
Massig bewegt (moderately fast)
40
Historical context of Smetana's Vltava:
- Bohemia was caught up in a surge of nationalist fever that culminated in a series of uprises agains Austrian rule in 1848, Smetana joined
- Ma vlast: cycle of 6 symphonic poems inspired by the beauty of the Bohemia countryside, rhythm of Bohemian folk songs/dances, and pageantry of its legends
- Vltava: Bohemian river Moldau (Vltava in Czech) becomes a poetic symbol
41
Plot summary of Ravel's Jeux d'eau:
inspired by the noise of water, the waterfalls, and the brooks
42
Genre of Liszt's La Campanella:
Piano music, etude
43
Context within whole work for Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suite:
abbreviated version of what Prokofiev included in the ballet for the ball scene
44
Which Schumann work are we studying?
Dichterliebe (A Poet's Love), op. 48: Und wussten's die Blumen (In the Lovely Month of May)
45
Source of text for Part's Cantate Domino canticum novum:
- language: Latin
- Psalm 95 of Catholic bible
- Psalm 96 of Protestant bible
46
Year of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto:
1844
47
Meter of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra:
- non-symmetrical (irregular) rhythm and changing meter (alternating between 2/4 and 5/8, also 3/4)... unpredictable charm
48
Context within whole work of Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire:
- Der Mondfleck is the 4th text in 3rd group
| - O alter Duft aus Märchenzeit is the 7th text in the 3rd group
49
Genre of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suite:
Originally composed for ballet, later reworked into orchestral suites
50
Performing forces of Berg's Wozzeck:
voice, orchestra, children's chorus
51
Meter of Brahm's Ein deutsches Requiem:
3/4
52
Specific form of Ligeti's Atmospheres:
according to Ligeti, overall form is like a single, broad arch with individual sections melting together
53
Ravel's Jeux d'eau was dedicated to:
Gabriel Faure
54
Performing forces of Part's Cantate Domino canticum novum:
- SATB chorus, organ
- voices often paired SA and TB
- changing textures: 1 voice, 2 voices, and 4 voices
55
Which Messiaen work are we studying?
Quatuor pour la fin du temps (Quartet for the End of Time)- 2nd movement: "Vocalise, pour l'Ange qui annonce la fin du Temps" (Vocalise, for the Angel who Announces the End of Time)
56
Genre of Ligeti's Atmospheres:
orchestral music
57
Year of Part's Cantate Domino canticum novum:
1977, revised in 1996
58
Historical context of Brahm's Ein deutsches Requiem:
- rooted in protestant tradition
- not religious in a conventional sense, composed because of the deaths of Robert Schumann (teacher and friend), and mother
- desired for music to have universal appeal: chose biblical text but avoided any specifically Christian references
- Originally wanted to call the work "A Human Requiem" because he didn't want any nationalist sentiments to be assumed
59
Source of text for Mahler's Symphony no. 4:
4th movement: Des Knaben Wunderhorn (The Youth's Magic Horn)
60
Year of Brahm's Ein deutsches Requiem:
1868 (6 movement version), 1869 (7 movement version)
61
General structure of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra:
- 5 movements, called a concerto because of its tendency "to treat the single orchestral instruments in a 'concertina' or soloistic manner"
- virtuoso is the entire orchestra
62
Year of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra:
1943
63
Performing forces of Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps:
- clarinet, violin, cello, piano
- unusual instrumentation was dictated by the circumstances of his confinement (violin and clarinet brought, cello without 1 string, old broken piano found at camp)
64
Structure of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto
- 3 movements, combine old classic ideals with new ideas of unity (3 movements played without pause)
- reference back to 1st movement occurs in 2nd movement, hinting cyclical form
65
Performing forces of Smetana's Vltava:
orchestra
66
Who was Liszt's La Campanella dedicated to?
Clara Schumann
67
Which Schoenberg work are we studying?
Pierrot lunaire (Moonstruck Pierrot), op. 21- Nos. 18 "Der Mondfleck" and Nos. 21 "O alter Duft aus Marchenzeit"
68
Meter of Webern's Symphony op. 21:
2/4
69
Form of Part's Cantate Domino canticum novum:
4 sections
70
General structure of Webern's Symphony op. 21:
- 2 movements, based on the same tone row
| - takes just under 10 mins. to play entire symphony
71
Tempo of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto:
- allegro molto appassionato (very fast and impassioned) in exposition
- agitato (varied moods and dynamics) in development
- più presto (faster tempo) in coda
72
General structure of Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps:
- 8 movements
- angelic song from 2nd movement returns in the 7th, 5th and 8th movements are linked by their spiritual message; 1st and 3rd movements use bird songs
73
Specific form of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture:
Sonata form:
- introduction
- exposition
- codetta
- development
- recapitulation
- coda
74
What makes Liszt's La Campanella physically challenging to play?
- technical difficulties
- exceeds natural span of hand
- right hand must pivot back and forth very quickly
75
Source of text of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suite:
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
76
Meter of Wagner's Die Walkure:
endless melody
77
Ravel's Jeux d'eau was premiered by:
Ricardo Vines
78
Which Liszt work are we studying?
La Campanella (The Little Bell) from Grandes etudes de Paganini
79
Year of Ravel's Jeux d'eau:
1902 (date of premiere)
80
Language of Verdi's La Traviata:
Italian
81
Which Bartok work are we studying?
Concerto for Orchestra-4th movement: Interrupted Intermezzo
82
Year of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suite:
1936
83
General structure of Berg's Wozzeck:
- 3 acts with 5 scenes in each act
- 3 acts usually performed without intermission
- 5 short scenes linked by brief orchestral interludes
84
Historical context of Schumann's Dichterliebe:
song cycle written during his year of song (1840) at very fast speed
85
Characters of Berg's Wozzeck:
- Wozzeck: feeble minded corporal (Baritone)
- Marie: Wozzeck's common law wife (Soprano)
- The Boy: son of Wozzeck and Marie (boy soprano)
- The Captain: his superior officer (Tenor)
- The Doctor: coldly scientific man (Bass)
- The Drum Major: rival for Marie's attention (Tenor)
86
General Structure of Brahm's Ein deutsches Requiem:
- 7 movements
- loosely symmetrical structure (arch formation: connection between 1&7, 2&6, 3&5 movements)
- originally a 6 movement work to commemorate Schumann, added 5th movement after initial premiere in memory of mother
87
Plot summary of Berg's Wozzeck, Act III Scene 4:
- Wozzeck returns to the edge of the pond where Marie's body lies
- searches for knife used to kill Marie, finds it, and tosses it into pond
- fearing that it may be found by bathers, he wades into the water hoping to retrieve it, but drowns
- The Captain and the Doctor pass by and hear the sound of someone drowning, but they hurry off
88
Which Smetana work are we studying?
Vltava (The Moldau) from Ma vlast (My Country)
89
What did Alexandre Dumas base his novel and play on?
the real life and death of Marie Duplessis: one of the most famous Parisian courtesans. She was beautiful and many men fell for her, but died of tuberculosis at 23, debt-ridden and alone
90
Briefly summarize Berg's Wozzeck.
- Wozzeck is subject to Captain's taunts and Doctor's dietary experiments, which undermines his state of mind, and is further unhinged by his suspicion of Marie's infidelity
- sees gold earrings as proof of Marie's involvement with Drum Major
- Drum Major boasts, then beats him up
- Wozzeck meets Marie by the pond and stabs her to death
- driven by his delusions, he wades into the water to find the knife he threw in there and drowns
91
Meter of Ravel's Jeux d'eau:
4/4
92
Specific form of Webern's Symphony op. 21:
- theme and 7 variations followed by a coda
- symmetrical, arch shape shows the workings of Webern's mind: variations 1&7 are double canons, 2&6 are trios, 3&5 are pointillistic in effect, and the 4th serves as a turning point of the movement
93
How did Verdi's situation mirror the story of La Traviata by Alexandre Dumas?
- In the same year, Verdi visited Paris for the first time and fell in love with Giuseppina Strepponi (retired opera singer with whom he had worked with in Milan several years earlier; loving relationship that was to last for 50+ years). Before marriage, they suffered judgement of many fellow Italians
94
Plot summary of Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire, Der Mondfleck:
Pierrot is out to have fun, but is disturbed by a white spot (a patch of moonlight) on the collar of his black jacket. Not realizing it is merely a moonbeam, he rubs and rubs but cannot get rid of it
95
Specific form of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suite:
ternary
96
How was the play "Woyzek" discovered?
Georg Buchner died at 23, leaving behind a legacy of documents. Decades later "Woyzek was discovered. It was a jumbled collection of approx. 30 scenes, barely legible, in no order. Both the play and the opera represent a reconstruction
97
Plot summary of Berg's Wozzeck, Act III Scene 5:
- children are playing outside Marie's house when one child announces that Marie is dead
- they all go off to view the body except for Marie's son
- uncomprehending the news, he circles the stage on his hobby-horse singing "hopp, hopp, hopp!"
- noticing the others are gone, he rides off on his hobby horse
98
Genre of Part's Cantate Domino canticum novum:
Sacred choral music
99
Context within the whole work for Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture:
independent concert work; not connected to the opera
100
Librettist for Verdi's La Traviata:
Francesco Marie Piave
101
Year of Verdi's La Traviata:
1853 (first performance in Venice)
102
Performing forces of Schumann's Dichterliebe:
solo voice (German) and piano
103
Characters of Wagner's Die Walkure:
- Wotan (baritone): ruler of the gods
- Fricka: wife of Wotan (mezzo soprano); goddess of marriage
- Valkyries: Brunnhilde and her 8 sisters (soprano, mezzo sopranos); warrior daughters of Wotan and Erda (an earth spirit)
- Siegmund (Heldentenor): mortal son of Wotan; Sieglinde’s twin brother
- Sieglinde (soprano): mortal daughter of Wotan; Siegmund’s twin sister
- Hunding (bass): Sieglinde’s husband; Siegmund’s enemy
- Brunnhilde (Soprano): The Valkyrie of the title; favourite daughter of Wotan
104
Plot Summary of Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps:
The Revelation of St. John (Chapter 10)
- angel descending from sky (description)
- sets right foot on sea, left foot on earth, raises his hands to the sky and share by Him saying: There shall be no more time, but on the day of the 7th Angel's trumpet the mystery of God shall be accomplished
105
Historical context of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra:
- 2 years before his death from leukaemia, Bartok was hospitalized
- 2 Hungarian compatriots, Fritz Reiner (conductor) and Joseph Szigeti (Violinist) petitioned the Koussevitzsky Foundation to commission this
- Bartok received a $1000 commission from Serge Koussevitzsky (conductor of Boston Symphony Orchestra), Bartok finished this for him in 7 weeks
106
General Structure of Smetana's Vltava:
set of 6 tone poems
107
Year of Mahler's Symphony no. 4:
1899-1901
108
General Structure of Mahler's Symphony no. 4:
4 movments
109
What hallmarks of Tchaikovsky's musical style are revealed in Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture?
- mournful lyricism
- vivid orchestration
- pathos (pitifulness)
110
Historical context of Ravel's Jeux d'eau:
- Ravel's first important work for the piano
| - inspired by Liszt's similarly titled piano work "Les jeux d'eau a la Villa d'Este" (Fountains at the Villa d'Este)
111
Historical context of Ligeti's Atmospheres:
- composer descried his procedure as "building with blocks of sound"
- illustrates Ligeti's use of micro polyphony
112
Which Verdi work are we studying?
La Traviata (The Lost One)- Act II Scene 2 "Invitato" to end of act
113
Tempo of Liszt's La Campanella:
- allegretto (fast and light)
| - coda marked animato (animated)
114
Meter of Berg's Wozzeck:
- Act III Scene 4 and Orchestral Interlude: 3/4
| - Act III Scene 5: 12/8
115
Specific form of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra:
Rondo-like form with recurrences of opening folk tune (A-B-A'-C-B'-A")
116
Source of text for Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps:
catholic bible: revelation of St. John (Chapter 10)
117
Which Ravel work are we studying?
Jeux d'eau (Water Games)
118
Performing forces for Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture:
orchestra with literary or pictorial associations
119
Context within whole work of Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps:
8 movements are symbolic of the 7 days in which God created the world, followed by eternity, an endless 8th day
120
General structure of Verdi's La Traviata:
3 acts
121
Mood of Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps:
- A: Presque vif, joyeux (fairly lively, joyous)
- B: lyrical, tender, though also eerie in character
- in light of dreadful conditions, this quartet testifies to the courage of human spirit. Strength and mysticism heard immediately
122
What was Berg's Wozzeck based on?
- Buchner's play "Woyzek"
| - Berg was very affected by the story after seeing it in 1914, and began making sketches for an opera based on the play
123
Genre of Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps:
chamber music
124
Plot summary of Brahm's Ein deutsches Requiem:
- aim was to console the living and lead them to a serene acceptance of death as a inevitable part of life
- song of mourning for all of humanity
- 4th movement: the text offers up a song in praise of the gifts of heaven
- opening words "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted" reveal his intention: to deliver universal message of hope and consolation
125
Which Mahler work are we studying?
Symphony no. 4 in G Major, 4th movement
126
Context within whole work for Liszt's La Campanella:
- 3rd etude
- inspired by the finale of Paganini's Second Violin Concerto
- drew 2 musical sections from Paganini's Second Violin Concerto and alternated them in continually varied figurations: A section in minor, B section in Major etc.
127
General structure of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suite:
3 symphonic suites and a collection of 10 piano pieces
128
Source of text for Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire:
- from the stock characters of the Italian "commedia dell'arte" (comedy of the arts): comic theatrical entertainment that originated in the mid 16th century
- texts from a collection of poems by Albert Giraud (Belgian writer)
- Giraud's short poems=series of miniatures balanced by variety in structure, texture (dense to sparse), and instrumentation
129
Tempo of Smetana's Vltava:
allegro commodo non agitato (fast, not agitated)
130
Performing forces of Ravel's Jeux d'eau:
piano
131
Meter of Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire:
- Der Mondfleck: 3/4
| - O alter Duft aus Märchenzeit: 4/4
132
Mood of Berg's Wozzeck:
- Act III Scene 4: frantic, chilling orchestration to reinforce the grisly events
- Orchestral Interlude: meditating
- Act III Scene 5: spirited, heartbreaking
133
Tempo of Webern's Symphony op. 21:
- Theme: Sehr ruhig (very quiet)
- V1: Lebhafter (livelier)
- V2: Sehr lebhaft (very lively)
- V3: Wieder massiger (again more moderately)
- V4: Ausserst ruhig (extremely quiet), slowest tempo within the movement
- V5: Sehr lebhaft (very lively)
- V6: Marschmassig (marchlike)
- V7: Etwas breiter (somewhat broadened)
- Coda: delicate 'raindrop' effect
134
Which Berg work are we studying?
Wozzeck- Act III Scene 4: "Das Messer?" and Orchestral Interlude Act III Scene 5: "Ringel, Ringel, Rosenkranz"
135
Meter of Liszt's La Campanella:
6/8
136
What unique specifications did Wagner have for his theatre?
perfect acoustics, a specially designed orchestra pit, unobstructed sight lines, fascinating/controversial productions
137
Specific form of Smetana's Vltava:
- Source of the River
- River Theme
- Hunting Scene
- Peasant Wedding
- Nocturnal Scene
- River Theme
- St. John Rapids
- River Theme
- Ancient Castle Theme
- Disappearance of the River (Coda)
138
Musical character of Brahm's Ein deutsches Requiem:
- gentle lyricism
- emotional expressions of loss and acceptance of death
- lilting triple meter marked dolce (sweetly)
139
Performing forces of Mahler's Symphony no. 4:
large orchestra with mezzo soprano soloist (4th movement only)
140
Form of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto:
- Exposition
- Development
- Cadenza
- Recapitulation
- Coda
141
Specific form of Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire:
each text is a Rondeau
142
Characteristics of Ligeti's Atmospheres:
- all entries are to be played imperceptibly and dolcissimo
| - extreme dynamic range (pppp to ffff)
143
Year of Schumann's Dichterliebe:
1840
144
Which Webern work are we studying?
Symphony op. 21- second movement
145
Source of text for Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture:
Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"
146
Context within whole work of Webern's Symphony op. 21:
- 1st movement, based on a tone row, is in sonata form with canonic structures
- 2nd movement is a theme with 7 variations and a coda
- both derived from the ton row of the 1st movement
147
Specific form of Verdi's La Traviata:
6 sections of plot
148
Plot summary of Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire:
- soloist takes us on a musical journey as we trace the exploits of Pierrot, a sad but mischievous clown character
149
Structure of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture:
single movement work
150
Year of Liszt's La Campanella:
1838-39, revised 1851
151
Language of Wagner's Die Walkure:
German
152
Plot summary of Mahler's Symphony no. 4:
this folk poem presents a child's optimistic and naive view of heaven, describing the bountiful feast prepared by the saints
153
Historical context of Part's Cantate Domino canticum novum:
- example of tintinnabular style
- returns to the simplicity of medieval chant for his inspiration: lyrical, conjunct lines move freely, always following the Latin text
154
How does extramusical connections affect Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture?
it is possible to enjoy this work without considering extra musical associations, but a deeper appreciation is possible when we connect the themes from the sonata form with the characters they represent
155
Year of Smetana's Vltava:
1874-1879
156
Context within whole work for Brahm's Ein deutsches Requiem:
- 4th movement is positioned at the core of this work's arch design and offers a comforting vision of heaven
- 4th movement chorus "How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place" is widely sung
157
Genre of Schumann's Dichterliebe:
Art Song, Lied, Song Cycle
158
Meter of Part's Cantate Domino canticum novum:
- none specified
| - prose rhythm, follows inflections of the text; the effect resembles metric shifts
159
Genre of Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire:
song cycle
160
Which Ligeti work are we studying?
Atmospheres
161
Genre of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture:
concert overture
162
Structure of Schumann's Dichterliebe:
- strophic form with 2 strophes treated identically
- 2 text strophes are framed by expressive piano introduction, interlude, and postlude which provide a circular shape to the song
163
Year of Webern's Symphony op. 21:
1928
164
Genre of Berg's Wozzeck:
expressionist opera
165
Historical context of Wagner's Die Walkure:
- Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung) took him over 20 years to complete
- Wagner called the Ring cycle “a stage festival for 3 days with a preliminary evening”; consists of 4 operas: “Das Rheingold”, “Die Walkure", “Siegfried”, and “Gotterdammerung”
166
Genre of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra:
orchestral music
167
Plot summary of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture:
- captures the essential emotions of the drama without trying to delineate specific plot development
- characters of Friar Laurence, Romeo, and Juliet are each identified by their own themes
- recurring feud theme evokes the conflict between the Montagues and the Capulets
168
Source of text for Berg's Wozzeck:
- Source of plot: 19th century Expressionist play "Woyzek" by Georg Buchner
- "Woyzek" was based on gruesome real life events
- "Woyzek" is a work intended to give voice to people who, through no fault of their own, remain victims at the mercy of an unfeeling world
- Language: German
- libretto prepared by the composer himself
169
Which Wagner work are we studying?
Die Walkure (The Valkyrie)- Act III Scene 4: Wotan’s Farewell to Brunnhilde: “Der Augen leuchtendes Paar" to end of act
170
Year of Berg's Wozzeck:
1922
171
Tempo of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suite:
- Introduction: andante
- A: allegro pesante
- B: moderato tranquillo
172
Mood of Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire:
- light, ironical, satirical tone
- abrupt changes of mood from guilt to depression to atonement and playfulness
- musical expression of bizarre images in text
- voice part is haunting and dramatic
173
Plot summary of Smetana's Vltava:
- begins with the description of the birth of the river formed by two springs, one warm, one cold, which merge together
- river journeys through Bohemian forest, encounters a hunt, a wedding feast, a nocturnal scene of nymphs revelling in the moonlight, and reflections of fortresses and castles that hint at past glory and splendour
- Turbulent St. John Rapids leads to historic Vysehrad castle before the river vanishes in the distance
174
Specific form of Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps:
A-B-A'
175
Tempo of Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps:
- opening and closing sections alternate between 2 fast paced tempos
- opens Robust, modere (with vigour, moderate tempo)
- B section marked Presque lent, impalpable lointain (rather slow, imperceptible, distant)
- A' section has return of the fast tempo
176
Plot summary of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra:
3 contrasting themes: folk-like and pentatonic; broad and lyrics; interruption with Nazi invasion that erupts with violence
177
Year of Ligeti's Atmospheres:
1961
178
Plot summary of Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire, O alter Duft aus Marchenzeit:
Pierrot revels in his memories of old times, looking out serenely on a world bathed in sunlight. With all of his ill-humour spent, he yearns for joy, and dreams of life's happy possibilities
179
Meter of Mahler's Symphony no. 4:
4/4
180
Historical context of Webern's Symphony op. 21:
- good introduction to Webern's completely original style: first modern Viennese School member to write a symphony
- is far removed from the expansion and development techniques and tonic dominant opposition traditionally associated with symphonic style
181
Meter of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture:
4/4
182
Source of text for Verdi's La Traviata:
- a play by Alexandre Dumas: "La dame aux camelias" (The Lady of the Camillias). Dumas adapted it from the novel of the same name
- At the same time that he fell in love with Strepponi, Verdi befriended Dumas; likely that he attended a performance of Dumas’ play
183
Plot summary of Schumann's Dichterliebe:
- songs don't tell a story, but follow a psychological progression that starts with the freshness of love and deteriorates to growing disappointment, then complete despair
- Narrator declares that if the flowers, nightingales, and stars were to know of his emotional suffering, they would each in their own way comfort him. However, only she who has caused his unhappiness can truly know his sorrow
184
Brief summary of Verdi's La Traviata:
- Violetta hosts lavish party, hiding her declining health due to the ravage of her consumption (tuberculosis), and meets Alfredo; gives him a camellia flower to remember her by
- Violetta and Alfredo enjoy happy existence in country side, when Giorgio convinces Violetta to leave Alfredo alone to save family reputation
- Violetta attends party at Flora's house (escorted by the baron), Alfredo attempts to avenge his honour but humiliates Violetta. Violetta reaffirms love for Alfredo
- Giorgio approves of Alfredo and Violetta's love, but show up too late, and Violetta dies in Alfredo's arms
185
Tempo of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture:
- Introduction marked andante non tango quasi moderato
| - exposition marked allegro guisto
186
Tempo of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra:
allegretto
187
General structure of Ligeti's Atmospheres:
massive score resembles geometric patterns and is visually striking
188
Meter of Smetana's Vltava:
- 6/8
- 2/4 for peasant wedding
- 4/4 for nocturnal scene
- 6/8 again for ancient castle theme
189
Performing forces of Webern's Symphony op. 21:
chamber orchestra: violins, violas, cellos, 2 harps, clarinet, bass clarinet, 2 horns
190
How did Brahm's take a unorthodox approach to the requiem?
- Requiem is traditionally a mass for the dead in the Catholic Church
- rather than setting the traditional Latin text of the requiem mass, he turned to German translations of selections from the new and old testaments
191
Context within whole work for Smetana's Vltava:
2nd of 6 programmatic poems from Ma vlast
192
Librettist for Wagner's Die Walkure:
Wagner. He drafted the librettos (in reverse order) before adding music
193
Mood/character of Part's Cantate Domino canticum novum:
- Part's spirituality is joyfully expressed in this work
- immediately captures the leggiero (light, nimble) joyous dance-like character, interrupted by brief moments of silence at text punctuation
- rejects the sounds of modernity, returning to purity and simplicity
194
Historical context of Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire:
- groundbreaking song cycle that he used Sprechstimme for the very first time
- chalked white faced clown, Pierrot (Pagliaccio in Italian, Petrushka in Russian) is one of the most parodied characters
- Pierrot was a model for pantomime for centuries, known to French children through the folk song "Au clair de la lune, mon ami Pierrot" (In the light of the moon, my friend Pierrot)
- Pierrot is heard against a pointillistic background
195
Tempo of Mahler's Symphony no. 4:
opening marked Sehr behaglich (very comfortably)
196
Source of Text of Brahm's Ein deutsches Requiem:
- A German Requiem: text chosen from Old and New Testaments from German Lutheran bible: Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, Ecclesiastes, Paul, Mathew, Peter, John, and Revelation
- 4th movement: based on verse from Psalm 84
197
Plot summary of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suite:
- in this scene, the Capulet family displays its wealth and power with sombre ritual and arrogant pride
- Juliet (a Capulet), is a young maiden of 14 years. Led a confined existence and displays none of the hateful attributes of the rest of her family
- Juliet meets Paris at the ball, who is the handsome suitor chosen for her by her family
- Juliet spies another man who truly captures her heart: Romeo, son of family's arch-enemy, the Montagues
198
Historical context of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suite:
- many composers inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
- 1 of only 2 non-political works from his USSR period
- became a showpiece of Soviet ballet
- the music on its own has proven very popular
199
Context within whole work for Verdi's La Traviata:
studying act 2 scene 2
200
Describe the process and impact of the creation of Berg's Wozzeck.
- delay due to military service, finished score in 1922
- premiered at the State Opera House in Berlin in Dec. 1925
- broke new ground musically, emotionally, and dramatically; critical financial success that brought Berg recognition as a composer of international standing
201
Meter of Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps:
3/4
202
Context within whole work of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra:
4th of 5 movements
203
Specific form of Liszt's La Campanella:
sectional form with variations (A-B-A'-B'-A"-B"-A'"-coda)
204
Mood of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra:
mood of the work represents, apart from the jesting 2nd movement, a gradual transition from the sternest of the 1st movement and lugubrious death song of the 3rd, to the life-assertion of the last
205
Name the Leitmotifs used in the section we are studying of Wagner's Die Walkure.
- Slumber Motive
- Magic Sleep Motive
- Spear Motive
- Magic Fire Motive
- Siegfried Motive
- Slumber and Magic Fire Motives
206
Historical context of Liszt's La Campanella:
- Grandes etudes de Paganini was influenced by great violin virtuoso Nicolo Paganini, and is a set of 6 technical masterpieces for piano based on Paganini's 'Caprices' for solo violin
- influenced by encounter with Chopin
207
Source of text of Schumann's Dichterliebe:
- 16 poems from Lyriches Intermezzo by Heinrich Heine
- poetry often presents ironic, cynical, yearning, nostalgic, bitter remarks that reflect disillusioned hopes, but the tone of the music is more neutral
208
Meter of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto:
2/2
209
Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto written for:
violin virtuoso Ferdinand David
210
General structure of Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire:
21 texts, arranged in 3 groups of 7
