Orchestral Music II January 23, 2004

Instrumental Music: Ideal Romantic Art Unlimited expressive range Unlimited expressive range Schopenhauer: instrumental music expressed the innermost reality of human feelings Schopenhauer: instrumental music expressed the innermost reality of human feelings Composers did not dismiss the power of words Composers did not dismiss the power of words Many composers also wrote essays on aesthetics, and others, like Wagner wrote librettos and philosophical treatises Many composers also wrote essays on aesthetics, and others, like Wagner wrote librettos and philosophical treatises

Program Music The result of composers' interest in literature and in instrumental music's expressive power The result of composers' interest in literature and in instrumental music's expressive power Definition: instrumental music associated with poetic, descriptive, or narrative subject matter Definition: instrumental music associated with poetic, descriptive, or narrative subject matter The ideal was instrumental music that transcended its "program" The ideal was instrumental music that transcended its "program" Sometimes the program was an afterthought Sometimes the program was an afterthought

Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847) Well-educated, cultured, and traveled Well-educated, cultured, and traveled Instrumental in Bach revival: 1840 he conducted performance of St. Matthew Passion Instrumental in Bach revival: 1840 he conducted performance of St. Matthew Passion Composes both program and absolute music Composes both program and absolute music Style: essentially classical with Romantic tendencies Style: essentially classical with Romantic tendencies Studied and closely adhered to the Classic forms Studied and closely adhered to the Classic forms Studied/performed music of Bach, Handel and Mozart; Beethoven had less influence Studied/performed music of Bach, Handel and Mozart; Beethoven had less influence

Mendelssohn’s Orchestral Music Well orchestrated, showing knowledge of sounds/tone colours of instruments Well orchestrated, showing knowledge of sounds/tone colours of instruments Composed 13 sinfonie, 5 symphonies, 6 overtures, incidental music Composed 13 sinfonie, 5 symphonies, 6 overtures, incidental music Symphonies adhered to classical conventions, but some have titles: Symphonies adhered to classical conventions, but some have titles: No. 3: “Italian” No. 3: “Italian” No. 4: “Scottish” No. 4: “Scottish” No. 5: “Reformation” No. 5: “Reformation” Incidental Music: Midsummer Night's Dream (1843) Incidental Music: Midsummer Night's Dream (1843)

Hector Berlioz ( ) Originally studied to be doctor; heard Gluck opera performed, turned his studies to music Originally studied to be doctor; heard Gluck opera performed, turned his studies to music 1827: first performance of a Shakespeare play: 1827: first performance of a Shakespeare play: Inspired musically to compose an orchestral work Inspired musically to compose an orchestral work Romantically he became obsessed with actress Harriet Smithson Romantically he became obsessed with actress Harriet Smithson His fame came in 1830: His fame came in 1830: Prix de Rome Prix de Rome Symphonie Fantastique Symphonie Fantastique Success difficult in France – his music was more successful in Germany, England and Russia than France Success difficult in France – his music was more successful in Germany, England and Russia than France He therefore toured extensively He therefore toured extensively

Berlioz’s Symphonic Writing First 3 symphonies made him the leader of the 19thC radical wing First 3 symphonies made him the leader of the 19thC radical wing Considered: Considered: Father of modern orchestration and conducting Father of modern orchestration and conducting Genius for orchestral writing: Treatise on Modern Instrumentation and Orchestration (1844) Genius for orchestral writing: Treatise on Modern Instrumentation and Orchestration (1844) First composer to perform primarily as a virtuosic conductor First composer to perform primarily as a virtuosic conductor Much of his music had explicit program Much of his music had explicit program He disregarded categories of genre and formal principle, aiming instead to meet his expressive goals, usually based on a set of feelings or passions He disregarded categories of genre and formal principle, aiming instead to meet his expressive goals, usually based on a set of feelings or passions This was achieved by: attention to melody, experiments with timbre This was achieved by: attention to melody, experiments with timbre

Symphonie Fantastique (1830) “An Episode in the Life of an Artist, Fantastic Symphony in 5 Parts” “An Episode in the Life of an Artist, Fantastic Symphony in 5 Parts” GENRE: Program symphony – narrative attached GENRE: Program symphony – narrative attached Based around his fantasies and love of actress Harriet Smithson Based around his fantasies and love of actress Harriet Smithson FIVE MOVEMENTS: FIVE MOVEMENTS: I: Reveries – Passions: first sighting of beloved II: A Ball: encounter of his beloved at a party III: Scene in the Country: images of a summer evening in the country IV: March to the Scaffold: dream of his own hanging V: Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath: diabolical orgy Idée fixe –melody to represent beloved; unites the five mov’ts Idée fixe –melody to represent beloved; unites the five mov’ts New combinations of instruments New combinations of instruments E.g. Fourth movement: March to the Scaffold E.g. Fourth movement: March to the Scaffold

Franz Liszt ( ) Virtuosic pianist, composer Virtuosic pianist, composer Gave concerts in Paris, published essays, active chiefly as a composer, conductor and pianist, teacher Gave concerts in Paris, published essays, active chiefly as a composer, conductor and pianist, teacher The foremost composer of program music after Berlioz The foremost composer of program music after Berlioz Musically he is known for his experimentation with large-scale forms and thematic transformation Musically he is known for his experimentation with large-scale forms and thematic transformation Invented the term symphonic poem: Invented the term symphonic poem: orchestral work based on a literary or pictorial idea orchestral work based on a literary or pictorial idea ‘source’ idea is not treated literally/explicitly, rather it is the source of inspiration ‘source’ idea is not treated literally/explicitly, rather it is the source of inspiration does not obey conventional forms, relatively short: continuous form with sections of contrasting character and tempo does not obey conventional forms, relatively short: continuous form with sections of contrasting character and tempo Composed 12 symphonic poems between 1848 and 1858, and another in Composed 12 symphonic poems between 1848 and 1858, and another in Les Preludes (1848, revised in 1854) Les Preludes (1848, revised in 1854)

Debate: “The War of the Romantics” Debate re: fate of sonata form and absolute music: traditionalists vs. progressive (re: instrumental music, specifically symphonies) Debate re: fate of sonata form and absolute music: traditionalists vs. progressive (re: instrumental music, specifically symphonies) Traditionalists: music should perpetuate the forms handed down from the first Viennese school and be absolute ( Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms) Traditionalists: music should perpetuate the forms handed down from the first Viennese school and be absolute ( Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms) Progressives: conventional forms should be modified and developed and based on a program or extramusical source (Liszt, Wagner, Berlioz) Progressives: conventional forms should be modified and developed and based on a program or extramusical source (Liszt, Wagner, Berlioz) Rancid debate during the 1850s Rancid debate during the 1850s composers’ music not performed in certain cities depending on influence of one side or the other composers’ music not performed in certain cities depending on influence of one side or the other music criticism was published in various newspapers, magazines, publications and public statements music criticism was published in various newspapers, magazines, publications and public statements