Review questions What is program music? What is program music? What is a symphonic poem? What is a symphonic poem? What kind of piece is Smetana’s The Moldau? What kind of piece is Smetana’s The Moldau? What is this symphonic poem about? What is this symphonic poem about? Why is it a nationalistic piece? Why is it a nationalistic piece?

Review questions What types of works did Dvorak write? What types of works did Dvorak write? What piece did we study by Dvorak? What piece did we study by Dvorak? What is Dvorak’s significance for American music? What is Dvorak’s significance for American music?

Announcements Exam II postponed until April 8 Exam II postponed until April 8 Exam will cover everything through next Tuesday (4/1) Exam will cover everything through next Tuesday (4/1) Review sheet will handed out after spring break- and posted on web site tomorrow Review sheet will handed out after spring break- and posted on web site tomorrow mus mus

19th c. choral music Not the most important genre of the period, but some great examples… Not the most important genre of the period, but some great examples… Like Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis Like Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis And Brahms’s German Requiem And Brahms’s German Requiem

Johannes Brahms A more conservative composer A more conservative composer Wrote absolute music in traditional forms Wrote absolute music in traditional forms Known for symphonies, chamber music, piano music, and the German Requiem Known for symphonies, chamber music, piano music, and the German Requiem

Brahms: German Requiem The title Requiem refers to the Catholic funeral mass The title Requiem refers to the Catholic funeral mass But this is not the standard Requiem text-it is based on a German translation of Psalm 84 But this is not the standard Requiem text-it is based on a German translation of Psalm 84 Written after the death of Brahms’s mother and his friend Robert Schumann (the composer) Written after the death of Brahms’s mother and his friend Robert Schumann (the composer)

Brahms: German Requiem Text deals with death and the afterlife Text deals with death and the afterlife

German Requiem The entire work is in 7 movements which form an arch The entire work is in 7 movements which form an arch 1-7, 2-6, 3-5 are alike 1-7, 2-6, 3-5 are alike Movement 4 is the centerpiece (Bach also was fond of this way of structuring his music this way viz. the Cantata #80 we studied) Movement 4 is the centerpiece (Bach also was fond of this way of structuring his music this way viz. the Cantata #80 we studied)

German Requiem mvt 4 Listening guide 50 Listening guide 50 Rondo form (with literal return of the text)-what is rondo form? Rondo form (with literal return of the text)-what is rondo form? ABACA ABACA Sections contrast in texture and character, and shifts from major to minor keys Sections contrast in texture and character, and shifts from major to minor keys Each section appropriate for text Each section appropriate for text

Romantic Opera national styles... national styles... France France Grand Opera- huge spectacles Opera comique/Lyric Opera-- smaller, with spoken dialogue (Carmen)

Romantic Opera Italy-- Bel canto singing style-lyrical, emphasis on singer Italy-- Bel canto singing style-lyrical, emphasis on singer Germany-- not too much development until Wagner (next class’s topic) Germany-- not too much development until Wagner (next class’s topic)

Guiseppe Verdi Most famous Italian opera composer of the period Most famous Italian opera composer of the period Another composer with nationalist sympathies: active in the Italian independence movement Another composer with nationalist sympathies: active in the Italian independence movement His Hebrews chorus from Nabucco (1842) became an anthem for this movement His Hebrews chorus from Nabucco (1842) became an anthem for this movement

Guiseppe Verdi Also served in the Italian Parliament Also served in the Italian Parliament Wrote operas over a period of 50 years-last one written at age 80 Wrote operas over a period of 50 years-last one written at age 80 Big changes in style during this time Big changes in style during this time

Verdi’s Operas Verdi’s music is divided into “numbers” (arias, recit, choruses), yet fluid drama Verdi’s music is divided into “numbers” (arias, recit, choruses), yet fluid drama Followed conventions for arias- recitatives-ensembles Followed conventions for arias- recitatives-ensembles Great emphasis of the singer: parts were written with specific singers in mind Great emphasis of the singer: parts were written with specific singers in mind

Verdi’s Rigoletto Listening guide 51 Listening guide 51 Story… Story… Based on Victor Hugo play, The King is Amused Based on Victor Hugo play, The King is Amused Rigoletto is a court jester, enemies place a curse on him Rigoletto is a court jester, enemies place a curse on him

Verdi’s Rigoletto Gilda is his daughter Gilda is his daughter Duke is a nasty seducer of women an he’s after Gilda Duke is a nasty seducer of women an he’s after Gilda Gilda gets abducted by Rigoletto’s enemies Gilda gets abducted by Rigoletto’s enemies Sparafucile is an assassin slated to kill the Duke Sparafucile is an assassin slated to kill the Duke

Verdi’s Rigoletto Gilda and Rigoletto watch as the Duke seduces Sparafucile’s sister Gilda and Rigoletto watch as the Duke seduces Sparafucile’s sister Gilda offers herself to be killed in place of the Duke Gilda offers herself to be killed in place of the Duke Rigoletto gets a body bag; thinks the dke is inside, but it’s really Gilda Rigoletto gets a body bag; thinks the dke is inside, but it’s really Gilda Curse is fulfilled Curse is fulfilled

Verdi’s Rigoletto Act 3 excerpts... Act 3 excerpts... Duke-sings a famous tuneful STROPHIC song: Woman is fickle--ha ha Duke-sings a famous tuneful STROPHIC song: Woman is fickle--ha ha Song captures the Duke’s character perfectly Song captures the Duke’s character perfectly

Verdi’s Rigoletto Ensemble… Ensemble… classic ensemble technique: each character responds differently to situation; all sing together, but in different styles (like Mozart’s Figaro classic ensemble technique: each character responds differently to situation; all sing together, but in different styles (like Mozart’s Figaro

Verdi’s Rigoletto Listen for differences in style: Maddalena and the Duke are passionate, singing in long lyrical lines.. Listen for differences in style: Maddalena and the Duke are passionate, singing in long lyrical lines.. While Gilda is angry: her singing is short and punctuated While Gilda is angry: her singing is short and punctuated