Music Appreciation Exam 4

Art Song

A composition setting a poem to music, generally for one solo voice and piano accompaniment; in German, a Lied

Idee Fixe

A famous melody (Harriet) that appears in all 5 movements of Berlioz’a Aymphoniw Fantastique to represent the beloved from the program.

Leitmotiv

“guiding motive” associated with a specific character, theme, or locale in a music drama, and first associated with the music of Richard Wagner

Symphonic Poem

Program music in the form of a single-movement composition for orchestra; sometimes called a tone poem

Romanticism

A movement in the arts and literature that originated in the late 18th century, emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual.

Nationalism

Pride in one’s nation or cultural identity, often expressed in art, literature, and music

Program Music

Instrumental music intended to represent a something extra musical such as a poem, narrative, drama, or picture, or the ideas, images, or sounds therein.

Rubato

The momentary speeding up or slowing down of the tempo within a melody line, literally “robbing” time from one note to give to another

Opera

A staged musical drama for voices and orchestra. Operas are fully blocked and performed in costume with sets. Operas utilize arias and recitatives without no narration

Concerto

A composition for a soloist or a group of soloists and an orchestra, generally in three movements with fast, slow, and fast tempos, respectively

Ternary Form

describes a musical composition in three parts, most often featurings two similar sections, separated by a contrasting section and represented by the letters A – B – A.

Romantic Music Characteristics

Melodies use more chromatic pitches, additional instruments in orchestra (saxophone, piccolo, English Horn, tuba, contrabassoon) harmonies more dissonant, more triads have a 4th note added to the chord, frequent modulations, full development of the piano, rubato, crescendo & decrescendo, enlarged orchestra, extra musical influences- attached narrative, theme, program music or characteristic title (tone poem, program symphony, symphonic poem) vs. absolute music (Music for the sake of music).

Romantic Era

1820-1910

Felix Mendelssohn Song

Elijah

Clara Schumann Song

Ballade in D Minor, Op. 6, no. 4

Franz Schubert Song

The Erlking

Giuseppe Verdi Song

“Follie” and “sempre libera” from La Traviata

Franz List Song

Hungarian Rhapsody

Johannes Brahms Song

Symphony No. 1

The Erlkönig Date

1815

The Erlkönig Genre

Art Song

The Erlkönig Form

Through Composed

The Erlkönig Performing Forces

Solo Voice and Piano

The Erlkönig Story Told of

Three characters, who are depicted in the music through changes in melody, harmony, and range

Triplet Pattern

Repeated fast __ ___ in the piano, suggesting urgency and the running horse

What changes between character in the Erlking?

Shifts of the melody line from high to low range

Full Title for Symphonie Fantastique

Symphonie Fantastique, Op.14: 1st movement Reveries – Passions

Symphonie Fantastique Genre

Symphony, first movement

Symphonie Fantastique Date

1830

Symphonie Fantastique Form

Sonata Form

Symphonie Fantastique Performing Forces

Large Romantic symphony orchastra

Largo

Slow

What does the largo opening in Symphonie Fantastique mean

Pensive and expressive, depicting the depression, joy, and passion of Berlioz

Other things to listen for in Symphonie Fantastique

Berlioz is known for being one of the greatest orchestrators of all time. He even wrote the first comprehensive book on orchestration. He always thought in terms of the exact sound (tone or timbre) of the orchestra and the mixture of individual sounds to blend through orchestration. He gave very detailed instructions to the conductor and individual performers in regards to articulations and how he wanted them to play. Listen to the subtleties and nuance of the performance. Berlioz left little up to chance since he was so thorough in his compositions.

Who was Berlioz’s love interest

Harriet Smithson