Symphonie Fantastique
Listening Assignment #1
Symphonie Fantastique
Hector Berlioz was born in 1803 in La Cote St André, France. He discovered music when he was twelve and became an accomplished musician very quickly. Berlioz then moved to Paris in order to try and make a living as a musician. He was heavily influenced by the works of Beethoven because of their unique style. Rather than fitting in with the classical forms, Beethoven reinvented the symphony to allow for more emotional expression. Berlioz found inspiration while at a play in Paris when he saw an actress by the name of Harriet Smithson. He became so infatuated with her that he composed his famous symphony Symphonie fantastique in 1830 to get her attention (1).
The first movement of Berlioz’s piece is titled “Reveries – Passions.” It opens with a small group of strings creating a soft legato style at a moderato tempo. The music crescendos and decrescendos until around two minutes where the tempo picks up to allegro. Throughout the rest of the movement both the tempo and dynamics change greatly, from dark to light textures, showing strong emotions of frustration and longing. The movement is mostly on strings but the horns are used in contrast creating very powerful accents. It is presented in sonata form, but the elements are not strictly defined (2). The main theme of the work is easily heard though in the middle of the movement.
Hector Berlioz’ second piece in this symphony is entitled “Un Bal.” This movement is a faster tempo and lends itself to dancing while being presented in a rondo form (2). Two harps can be heard creating a distinct sound that break into a waltz after only a few bars. It is very bright and much easier to listen to then the first movement. The main theme comes back in the second movement around one minute into the piece. There is much less dynamic variation then the first movement, keeping the lively mood. This movement seems to take place at a ball
Symphonie Fantastique
Hector Berlioz was born in 1803 in La Cote St André, France. He discovered music when he was twelve and became an accomplished musician very quickly. Berlioz then moved to Paris in order to try and make a living as a musician. He was heavily influenced by the works of Beethoven because of their unique style. Rather than fitting in with the classical forms, Beethoven reinvented the symphony to allow for more emotional expression. Berlioz found inspiration while at a play in Paris when he saw an actress by the name of Harriet Smithson. He became so infatuated with her that he composed his famous symphony Symphonie fantastique in 1830 to get her attention (1).
The first movement of Berlioz’s piece is titled “Reveries – Passions.” It opens with a small group of strings creating a soft legato style at a moderato tempo. The music crescendos and decrescendos until around two minutes where the tempo picks up to allegro. Throughout the rest of the movement both the tempo and dynamics change greatly, from dark to light textures, showing strong emotions of frustration and longing. The movement is mostly on strings but the horns are used in contrast creating very powerful accents. It is presented in sonata form, but the elements are not strictly defined (2). The main theme of the work is easily heard though in the middle of the movement.
Hector Berlioz’ second piece in this symphony is entitled “Un Bal.” This movement is a faster tempo and lends itself to dancing while being presented in a rondo form (2). Two harps can be heard creating a distinct sound that break into a waltz after only a few bars. It is very bright and much easier to listen to then the first movement. The main theme comes back in the second movement around one minute into the piece. There is much less dynamic variation then the first movement, keeping the lively mood. This movement seems to take place at a ball
Cited: 1) "Berlioz 's Symphonie Fantastique." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. 2) "Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique." Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.