Transcript Romantic
General Characteristics of Romantic Music • Dynamics extended, changes more frequently, less predictable • Range of tempos extended, more frequent, more adjectives • Melodies are longer, “yearning” quality, rubato • Harmony explores further, modulations, chromatic • Forms blur Franz Schubert Song, Die Forelle (The Trout) • What is the form/structure of this piece? • What is the relationship between the melody and the accompaniment? Is one more important than the other? • What is the atmosphere of this song? How does Schubert create it? • How does Schubert create the effect of water? Fryderyk Chopin Prelude in E minor for Piano • On what other piece of music is this Prelude modelled? • What is the form of this piece? • What is the relationship between the melody and the accompaniment? What shape or direction do they move? Schumann, Traumerei from Kinderscenen • What is the relationship between the melody and the accompaniment? • What is the form? • What makes this a “character piece”? • What is the atmosphere? How does Schumann achieve this? • Describe the characteristics of the melody? Giuseppe Verdi, Otello • What is the source of the story? How accurately does it reflect the original? • Describe the nature of the melody? In what ways is it easy to sing? In what ways is it difficult? • How realistic is this opera? What drives the story? • What are reference motives? • This opera is associated with Italian nationalism. How so? Johannes Brahms Fourth Movement from Symphony No. 4 in E minor • What is a passacaglia? What is its significance to this piece? • How does Brahms achieve harmonic and melodic variation? • Describe the length of variations and their relationship to each other. • How does B Section relate to the A sections? Pucinni, Madame Butterfuly, “Un bel di” • Describe the nature of the melody • How does Pucinni reinforce the importance of the melody? • Describe the relationship between recitatives and arias • What is a da capo aria? How is it used here? • How does the music reflect the drama of the story? Mahler, Symphony No. 2, Fourth Movement • In what way is this symphony programmatic? • What is the overall form or structure to this symphony? • How does this compare to a symphony by a Classical composer like Haydn or Mozart? • How does this symphony relate to Beethoven’s 5th and 9th Symphonies? Richard Wagner Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde • What are leitmotives? • What is the relationship between this piece and Hitler’s facism of the 1930/40’s? Bedrich Smetana Symphonic Poem, The Moldau • What is a tone poem • Is this music programmatic? How so? • What is orchestral colour? Does this piece have broad or narrow palette of orchestral colour? Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune • How does this piece relate to the Impressionism movement in art? • The Symbolist poet Mallarmé wrote the text on which this music is based. What is the poem and how does the music reflect it? • Explain the significance of the opening melody. What are its important musical characteristics?