Romantic Era- Berlioz

William Blake “The Chimney Sweeper”

critique towards religion and industrialization.

Fredrich Nietzsche “The Birth of Tragedy out of the Spirit of Music”

-critiqued industrialization and modernity

-Dionysian music (excess, gaiety) vs. Apollonian Music (reason, moderation).

romanticism

-reaction to enlightenment: anti-science and anti-reason.

-critique against uberization and industrialization

-NO to Universalism; YES to individualism: Subjectivity & Spontaneity “childlike” Heart OVER Head

- “Romantic Hero” – impulsive, lonely, rejected BUT innocent

Romantic nostalgia for “imagined” past via Nature in:

(1) sublime (2) power and fury (3) pastoral (4) supernatural

How did Romantic composers compose music? (1)

(1) Music for “grand piano”

–industrial production made piano common in middle-class homes

How did Romantic composers compose music? (2)

(2) Symphony (100-150 musicians) with conductor performed in concert halls for music aficionados.

How did Romantic composers compose music? (3)

(3) Subjective music narrates composer’s story. Program booklet guiding audiences with story

How did Romantic composers compose music? (4)

(4) Used dissonance & chromaticism for paganism *Symphonie Fantastique.

How did Romantic composers compose music? (5)

(5) Composed “Character pieces”

– Franz Schubert composed Leider, Austro-German poem-songs

– Frédéric Chopin composed Mazurka, Polish folk dance

genre

music

title

Symphonie fantastique

author

hector Berlioz

form

instrumental program music

form

instrumental program music

place

paris

Symphonie Fantastique (1830)

– Psychedelic music by over-dozed Berlioz

– Program music

– Idée fixe – fixed music idea – unify symphony in five movements

1st movement

-NOT in “sonata form”

– Idée fixe played by strings

– Idée fixe shows nervous excitement, surges of joy, tenderness, jealousy

2nd movement/ Un Bal (Ball)

-waltz in triple meter

– 2 harps signify glamour and sensuality

– Idée fixe played by woodwinds

5th movement/ Dream Of the Witches Sabbath

– Idée fixe by clarinet solo to show “mocking witch”

– tolling bells depict "witches' funeral dance”

– Dies Irae – Latin hymn – Berlioz attends his own funeral

Gretchen am Spinnrade in D minor – Lied by Franz Schubert

Gretchen longs for Faust at the Spinning Wheel

• Right Hand = moving spinning wheel

• Left Hand = motion of foot pedal

Mazurka in B-flat Major

Mazurka, Polish folk dance in triple meter

– Two sections: 1) in B-flat Major 2) unknown key, highlight folk origin

– Chopin’s mazurka symbolize Polish identity

Why did Berlioz/Schubert/Chopin compose music? (1)

(1) Dispute “Enlightenment universalism” – music ONLY for aficionados

Why did Berlioz/Schubert/Chopin compose music? (2)

(2) Subjective music – Symphonie Fantastique – Berlioz’s personal love story

Why did Berlioz/Schubert/Chopin compose music? (3)

(3) Anti-Industry & Anti-Modernity via paganism – Symphonie Fantastique = witches’ funeral dance

*Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rite Of Spring

Why did Berlioz/Schubert/Chopin compose music? (4)

(4) Promote romanticism of “Nationalism”

“Nationalist Music”/ Character pieces by Schubert, Chopin, Bartók, Wagner, Verdi, etc

paradoxes

-nationhood VS discrimination of minorities

-unified people VS xenophobia, genocide