Music 320
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
Biography
- Born in Lyon, son of wealthy doctor
who didnt want Hector to be musician. Hector
studied medicine in public, music in secret; eventually
overcame parental opposition.
- Attended Paris Conservatoire,
entered Prix de Rome (composition competition that
still exists today; eventually won on 4th try; studied in
Rome and then Germany.
- Berlioz had many non-compositional
accomplishments, esp. literary and conducting efforts.
- Treatise on Instrumentation
(1843) explained concepts of orchestration and
was definitive source for teaching orch. through
19th century; still used today
- Many other literary works
including Evenings with the Orchestra.
- Three important events in 1827-28
changed his life (he was 24-25 yrs old)
- heard Beethovens 3rd and
5th symphonies for first time
- read French translation of
Goethes Faust
- saw his first production of
Shakespeare, Hamlet (Charles Kemble played
Hamlet, young actress named Harriet Smithson as
Ophelia
- Summation of Berlioz: he was the
"leading musician of his age in a country, France,
whose principal artistic endeavor was then literary, in
an art, music, whose principal pioneers were then
German."
Composition Periods
- Works which were composed for Prix de
Rome attempts are from his earliest comp. period;
later he borrowed ideas and themes from these
works
- Second Comp Period 1830
(Symphonie Fantastique) to 1846 (Damnation of Faust)
- expanded musical resources;
- wrote for larger orch, more
different wind instruments;
- exploited some of the new
improvements to instruments, such as woodwind
fingering systems and brass valves.
- Final period is called
"neo-classic" in that it is philosophically
retrospective especially Humanism
Works
- Symphonie Fantastique,
"an episode in an artists life" has 5
movements that tell a story (but entirely instrumental)
- Berlioz issued a pamphlet
containing program; program went through several
versions
- Central organizing idea is a
melody or idee fixe:
- appears in each
movement
- represents the woman
who is the object of adoration of the
central character
- "Second Symphony" or Harold
in Italy: a dramatic orchestral work, also has a solo
instrument (viola), makes concerto part of hybrid mix
- story was well known: based on
popular poem Childe Harolds Pilgrimage by
Lord Byron. Harold and his naivte are symbolized
by an idee fixe played by viola
- Written at request of Paganini
- Other hybrid pieces:
- Lelio
(sequel to Sym Fant): uses symphony plus chorus
and narrator (NOT Programmatic)
- Romeo & Juliet
has several movements: inner ones are strictly
symphonic, but lots of chorus in outer movements;
Berlioz called it a "dramatic symphony"
- Damnation of Faust
has aspects of symphony, oratorio,
opera, cantata.... Cant be clearly placed
in any one category
- Some true Operas, including Les
Troyens; they have very demanding parts for
singers, esp. range
Composition Traits
- Melody
- He liked long, asymmetrical
melodies
- has lowered 6th scale degree
- Form:
- Berlioz was as likely to use
rhythm, tempo, dynamics, etc. to define sections
of his pieces as using tonal contrast or themes.
- Also used very distant key
relationships