Poems/Drama/Songs/Painting (Topic 5)

What are plaquettes (context of caves)?

Small engraved stone tablets, are a type of Paleolithic mobiliary art found in Magdalenian sites

What is mobiliary art?

Refers to incised, engraved, perforated, carved, or painted remains found at Paleolithic sites

What is Magdalenian culture?

Hunter gatherers living near to close of Ice Age. Used fire for art in caves.

What are the other aspects of magdalenian culture?

Decorated tools, engraved bones, celebrated cave paintings, rudimentary music

What is the Swimming reindeer sculpture?

13,000 yo sculpture of two swimming reindeer

This sculpture is carved from tip of a mammoth tusk, two pieces which can be joined together

The swimming reindeer by magdalenian culture

Where is the location The swimming reindeer was found?

Inside a rockshelter in Lascaux, France (modern day)

The swimming reindeer is interesting about the ancient past of France. Why?

Reindeer is now extinct in France

The mammoth spear thrower (also found in Lascaux, France) was made from?

Carved from reindeer antler

What is the moral of the story on the mammoth spear thrower?

Speaks of co-existence of mammoth and reindeer in the past history (Ice Age) France

What is this "Abri Montastruc"?

Montastruc rock shelter

Why are the engraved plaquettes arranged closely around the fireplace/hearth?

Source of light from hearth used to view the "animated" engravings

Who composed "Music for the Royal Fireworks"?

English-German composer, George Frideric Handel

Achieved lasting fame in 1742 with “Messiah”

George Frideric Handel

- Water Music

- Zadok the Priest

are famous works attributed to?

George Frideric Handel

Well known Oratorio

Johann Sebastian Bach - Christmas Oratorio

George Frideric Handel - Messiah

Franz Joseph Haydn - The Creation

What was the reason for "Music for the Royal Fireworks"?

- Celebrates end of the War of Austrian Succession

- AND signing of the treaty of Aix-la-chapelle

Certain musical instruments in the making of "Music for the Royal Fireworks" were removed as King George II dislike them. What was it?

- Violins

- The entire orchestra was played with woodwind instruments

- King dislike stringed instruments

Why "Music for the Royal Fireworks" did not perform well during its official debut to King George II?

- The right pavilion caught fire

- Rainy weather

- Plenty of misfire

- A woman's clothes caught fire

- Two soldiers were burned, the third blinded

"Music for the Royal Fireworks" was written in which key?

Written in D Major key

Which musical instrument was asked to improvise in "Music for the Royal Fireworks"?

The snare drum

Who composed "Feu d'artifice (1908)"?

Igor Stravinsky

Igor Stravinsky credited with the following famous pieces:

The Firebird (1910, 1st version)

Petrushka (1911)

The Rite of Spring (1913)

What was the motivation to compose "Feu d'artifice (1908)"?

Made by Igor to commemorate the wedding of Rimsky-Korsakov's daughter

"Feu d'artifice (1908)" was composed in what key?

Written in E major key

Orchestration - percussion/high wind n strings to mimic sparks

Sudden dynamic shifts n sound bursts

Chromatic runs n irregular rhythms - make it unpredictable

Was a wedding present

Which song was this?

Feu d'artifice (1908) by Igor Stravinsky

Who composed “Feux d'artifice (1913)"?

Claude Debussy

Claude Debussy other famous works?

- Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

- Pelléas et Mélisande

- Nocturnes

- Images

- La mer

How did Claude Debussy became famous?

Gained international fame in 1902 with the opera Pelléas et Mélisande

Claude Debussy music style

- rich harmonies, tonal ambiguity, and colorful orchestration

- Influenced by symbolist poetry and non-Western music

What was Debussy attempting to create with “Feux d'artifice (1913)"?

- Dazzling depiction of Bastille Day fireworks

- and he ended by quoting the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise"

Why is Feux d'artifice (1913) considered the hardest work by Claude Debussy?

Requires precise control, speed and dynamic nuance

Feux d'artifice (1913) was presented in what key?

- Written in 4/8 time signature

- Written in F major and D minor keys

- Considered highly unstable and impressionistic,

- using whole-tone scales, dissonance, and sudden shifts

- Weaves a two-note motif throughout the whole piece

Feux d'artifice (1913) by Claude Debussy?

Who composed "Flourish with Fireworks (1988)"?

Oliver Knussen

Oliver Knussen other famous works includes:

- Symphonies no.2 and 3

- Flourish with Fireworks

- Ophelia Dances

- Where the Wild Things Are*

- Higglety Pigglety Pop!*

* - children's opera based on Maurice Sendak

What inspired Oliver Knussen to compose "Flourish with Fireworks (1988)"?

- To pay homage to Stravinsky

- To celebrate a new conductor for LSO (London Symphony Orchestra) who is also his good buddy

- To LSO itself for being a "home" to him and his father

Who composed “Fire◎Flower (2008)"?

- Halyosy (a VOCALOID)

- voice provided by Mori Haruyoshi

What is the plot story to “Fire◎Flower (2008)" composed by Halyosy?

- Story of a boy (len) describing his love for a girl (rin)

- Like a fire flower is the metaphor used to describe his love for the girl

Who sang “Fireworks (2010)"?

Katy Perry

Other famous songs by Kate Perry

- One of the Boys

- Teenage Dream

- Prism

- Witness

- Smile

- 143

What is the song “Fireworks (2010)" about?

- About self empowerment song

- Kate Perry's own personal wish (to blast off when she dies)

“Fireworks (2010)" was sung in what key?

A flat major, paced at 124 BPM

Katy Perry also known for:

- Voiced Smurfette in The Smurfs films

- Launched a shoe line (Katy Perry Collections)

- Made a documentary (Part of Me, 2012)

- Became a judge on American Idol (2018 - 2024)

Who painted "Magdalene with the Smoking Flame"?

Painting by Georges de la Tour, 1640

What is the interpretation for the painting"Magdalene with the Smoking Flame"?

- Staring at candle, stroking skull with rope in foreground

- Possibly about struggles of earthly life and eternal salvation

What is the meaning to the flame/light in "Understanding Magdalene with the Smoking Flame"?

Candle light - possibly spiritual enlightenment, fleeting nature of life, living flame of love

What is the meaning to the skull in "Understanding Magdalene with the Smoking Flame"?

Skull may denote eternal damnation from sin, OR finality of life that all eventually pass away

Who painted both "Magdalene at the Mirror" and "Magdalene with the Smoking Flame"?

By Georges de la Tour

Why was there fascination on Mary Magdalene painting?

- Great devotion to her in Catholic churches circa 17th century

- The repentance of Mary evoked beauty

- Candle's flame and smoke symbolise soul, divine light, and the fleeting nature of life

- Represents morality, repentance, and spiritual devotion

"Understanding Magdalene with the Smoking Flame"

Who painted the "Great Fire of London 1666" painting?

Dutch painter, Jan Griffier

Jan Griffier is best known for?

- Blending Dutch Golden Age techniques with English subject matter,

- capturing the views of Thames, London and Rhine valley

Where is the view for this painting by Jan Griffier?

Looks towards St. Paul's Cathedral from a viewpoint outside Newgate

Was the painting of the "Great Fire of London 1666" witnessed first hand by himself Jan Griffier?

No, he painted from his impression of the carnage

Who painted the "Windsor Castle from the Lower Court on the Fifth of November—Fireworks"?

Painted by Paul Sandby

What does the art of Windsor Castle by Paul Sandby depicts?

- Depicted the celebration of Guy Fawkes Night

- Fawkes was catholic and unhappy england was turning protestant

What is unique and special about the art of Windsor Castle painted by Paul Sandby?

He painted only male

What were the red tone of the ink meant for in the art of Windsor Castle by Paul Sandby?

Gives the bonfire scene additional warmth while emphasising the white plumes of smoke trailing from the fireworks

Who painted "The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 16 October 1834 (1835)"?

- English Romantic landscape painter, JMW Turner

- aka Joseph Mallord William Turner

Describe the first version of the panting "The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 16 October 1834 (1835)"?

- The first version is currently kept in the Philadelphia Museum of Art

- Shows the Westminster Bridge

- Fire burned House of Commons in St Stephen Hall

- Crowds in the foreground

Describe the second version of the panting "The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 16 October 1834 (1835)"?

- The second version is currently kept in the Cleveland Museum of Art

- Shows the Waterloo bridge

- Flame and smoke blown dramatically over Thames river

- Also showed fire fighting boats struggling to reach location

What inspired Turner to paint The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 16 October 1834 (1835)?

It was a historical event, fire broke out in the Palace of Westminster, due to overheated chimney fues

What did the painting of The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 16 October 1834 (1835) captured?

- To capture the helplessness of humanity against the destructive nature of fire

- Intense colors, smoky atmosphere, and distorted perspectives, moving beyond literal depiction toward an emotional and almost abstract style

Who painted "The Moon in Smoke (1886)"?

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

What is special about Tsukioka Yoshitoshi who produced the "The Moon in Smoke (1886)" painting?

- The last grandmaster of ukiyo-e style of painting

- Uses woodblock printing and painting

- The art and methodology died with him

What is the depiction in the "The Moon in Smoke (1886)"?

- Dramatic scene of flames and firefighter in foreground (fire breakout is common in Edo period)

- Wears headgear with mark of his squad

- Holds a matoi, a 3D flag showing his location

"The Moon in Smoke (1886)" was part of “One Hundred Aspects of the Moon”. Who was credited for it?

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Who produced the art piece, "Red Plastic (1961)"?

Abstract artist, Alberto Burri

What is the art piece, "Red Plastic (1961)" about?

- Alberto Burri used fire in painting by melting burned red plastic on black fabric

- it created a visual experience that blurs the lines of creation vs destruction

What was Albert Burri attempting to display in "Red Plastic (1961)"?

Reflects themes of destruction and healing, shaped by Burri's experience as a wartime medic

Who produced the paintings of "Fire Paintings (1957-1961)"?

Yves Klein

Why was Yves Klein fascinated with fire and water in his art?

To him, it symbolises good and evil, destruction and regeneration

How were the paintings in "Fire Paintings (1957-1961)" produced?

- Uses fire as its motif

- Made with giant blowtorch

- Also sprayed with water

Created haunting, abstract images with scorched patterns, often combining fire with water and even human body imprints

Art produced by Yves Klein

What is special about Yves Klein last drawing, titled Fire Colour 1 (FC 1)?

- Used naked women to imprint shape to the canvas

- Used blowtorch to give spectral outline

- Inspiration from Hiroshima / Nagasaki bombing spectral outline

- Explored themes of transformation, absence, and elemental powers

- Inspired by rituals and alchemy, extended Klein’s interest in immateriality and performance

refers to which artist?

Yves Klein

Known as “Father of the Symphony” and “Father of the String Quartet” for his key role in developing these forms

Joseph Hadyn

Who produced "Fire Symphony" circa 1760?

Produced by Austrian composer, Joseph Hadyn

Other musical elements about Fire Symphony from Joseph Hadyn?

- Symphony no. 59 in A major

- Has 4 movements

Who composed the "Magic Fire Music of 1870"?

By Richard Wagner (German)

What is Gesamtkunstwerk concept by Richard Wagner?

Integrating music, poetry and stagecraft together

What sort of controversies surround Richard Wagner?

Anti- jewish writings and Nazi ideology

Which orchestral passage from Die Walkure (2nd opera in Der Ring des Nibelungen) came from?

Magic Fire Music of 1870

What is the famous work of Richard Wagner in Die Walkure?

Act 3 - Ride of the Valkyries

The "god' wotan surrounded his daughter with protective fire as she falls into enchanted sleep is associated with which composer?

Richard Wagner in Die Walkure

What are the inspiration for Die Walkure?

Norse and germanic mythology

The motif and reason for fire protection on wotan's daughter?

As protection and as exile

What is the role of the Hero in Die Walkure theme?

Only the hero who is worthy of wotan's daughter love can wake her up

The reason and symbolism by Wotan for his daughter in Die Walkure?

Bidding her farewell, and her becoming a mortal human being

Who composed the "The Origin of Fire (1910)"?

Jean Sibelius, Finnish

What is Finlandia, Karelia Suite, The Swan of Tuonela,

Violin Concerto associated with?

Part of his 7 symphonies, by Jean Sibelius, his best symphonies

His composition is known for sweeping melodies, rich orchestration, connection to Finnish folklore & nature. Who is this person?

The style of Jean Sibelius

The composition is liken to be dramatic cantata for baritone, male choir & orchestra. Name the piece and the composer.

The Origin of Fire by Jean Sibelius

What is the motivation for The Origin of Fire?

Nationalism, patriotism and independence from Imperial Russia

What is the fire's meaning in The Origin of Fire?

- As source of progress

- As Finland's struggle for independence from Russia

What is the story in The Origin of Fire?

- Tells the story on how fire came to the world

- Stolen from heavens and plunged the world in darkness

- god Ukko had to make a new sun to restore fire

Who composed the Suite from the Firebird (1919)?

Igor Stravinsky, russian

The Firebird, The Rite of Spring and Petrushka compositions were composed by?

By Igor Stravinsky, and made him famous

What is the story in Rite of Spring produced by Igor Stravinsky?

Depicted a pagan ritual where a girl dances to death as a sacrifice to ensure the arrival of spring