Episode in the life of an artist in five sections op. Work analysis 20 hector berlioz symphonie fantastiq. Karajans 1950s version with the philharmonia is more convincing. Whereas symphonie fantastique was inspired by berliozs infatuation with harriet smithson, harold en italie was inspired by a lack of funds. Its acoustics soften the hard edges of the berlin philharmonic but not to the point where its a contender in a congested field. True hector berlioz looked to the writings of shakespeare as the basis for both operas and symphonic works. Listen to the following four excerpts and then click on the corresponding cards in the order in which they appear in the fifth movement of berlioz s symphonie fantastique. This one should be heard for a great concept of the fantastique.
Most of the rest of this article is copied directly from the book hector berlioz. The southeast trombone symposium is held annually at the schwob school of music at columbus state university in columbus, georgia. Clips taken from original discs may contain strong language. A bibliography of the musical and literary works of hector berlioz. Hector berliozs symphonie fantastique hector berlioz wrote the symphonie fantastique at the age of 27. The best performances are empathetic to the heart and mind of the composer in all pieces. Symphonie fantastique, mvt iii 3m after 43 until 44 excerpt here. And its spooky because those sounds youre hearing come from the first psychedelic symphony in history, the first musical description ever made of a trip, written one hundred thirty odd years before the beatles, way back in 1830 by the brilliant french composer hector berlioz thats berlioz. Set in brooklyn and manhattan, the film tells the story of a young man who enjoys a wild night out on the town with an adventurous young woman, only to face the consequences once the fantasy ends and reality kicks in. Buy suite from symphonie fantastique by hector berl at. The love story behind berliozs symphonie fantastique. The meter 68, the key of f major, and the prominent use of woodwind instruments all contribute to the pastoral atmosphere of this movement.
The symphonie fantastique is a symphony written by the french composer hector berlioz. The timestamp page numbers refer to the pdf file, not the printed numbers on each page. What was meant to be a viola concerto commissioned by niccolo paganini turned out to be a fullblown symphony with the odd viola obbligato. This one is considerably fleeter of tempi, though restricted of sound, while the other would be spacious, with an almost lush sound, but without the full diabolical measure which went into this one berlioz.
Symphonie fantastique berlioz simple english wikipedia. March to the scaffold by hector berlioz wind band literature. Inspired by berlioz infatuation with irish stage actress. Symphonie fantastique excerpts from lelio tilson thomas music. In the opening movement the young musician first sees the woman of his dreams. Berliozs unbridled symphonie fantastique it may have been written in 1830, but berliozs groundbreaking music provides the soundtrack to some wild nights complete with dancing, drugs, an. The work as we now know it is thus substantially different from the. He based the program on his own impassioned life and transferred his memoirs into his best known program symphony.
In a case of mistaken identity, the lovely woman turns out to be a princess. This is the audition excerpt that is often requested at orchestral bassoon auditions. Operas les francsjuges, h 23 benvenuto cellini, h 76 les troyens, h 3 beatrice et benedict, h 8. You can add or edit information about symphonie fantastique at. Berlioz however revised the work extensively during his trip to italy in 18312 and in subsequent years and did not publish it until 1845. An episode in the life of an artist, in five parts hector berlioz. Berlioz pairs an english horn with an offstage oboe for a duet between two shepherds note that the first call and echo are in major mode, the second in minor. List of books and articles about hector berlioz online. But ticciatis spontaneous interpretation makes the symphonie fantastique sound even more like a product of a fevered romantic imagination, namely berliozs. Given the emotional weight of fantastique, it is imperative that the soul of the program and raw emotion conveyed by berlioz is given at least as much consideration to the notes on the page. Louishector berlioz 11 december 1803 8 march 1869 was a french romantic composer. Hector berlioz december 11, 1803 march 8, 1869 was a french romantic composer, conductor, music critic and author, best known for his compositions symphonie fantastique and grande messe des morts requiem. An episode in the life of an artist, in five parts op.
Berlioz, tilson thomas, san francisco symphony berlioz. Berlioz symphonie fantastique double bass excerpts. It was simply a matter of time before munchs feverish, goforbroke 1954 recording of the symphonie fantastique showed up on rcas living stereo cd reissue series. Symphonie fantastique holds a unique position in the history of music as one of the few. The story is a selfportrait of its composer, hector berlioz. Boston civic symphony 90th season taichi fukumura, associate conductor check out the complete performance at. The true love is represented musically by a melody known as the idee fixe fixed idea. On this edition of milestones of the millennium we experience the panoply of emotions of a young, lovestruck musician and composer, hector.
About symphonie fantastique this massive work takes almost an hour to perform and is written for an orchestra of 90 musicians. The symphony as a whole tells the story, in music, of a troubled young artist and his quest for his true love. Symphonie fantastique was featured in the films the shining, sleeping with the enemy, and was the basis for the short film last nights symphonie 2014, a dark comedy that reimagines the story of the symphony. Symphonie fantastique tells the autobiographical story of the composers love for smithson and his emotional torment. In 1830 his symphonie fantastique was first performed in paris, marking a bold new development in program music. Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his treatise on instrumentation 1844. Symphonie fantastique hector berlioz esta foi a primeira sinfonia deste enorme compositor 1830. He abandoned medical study to enter the paris conservatory as a composition student. Symphonie fantastique and harold in italy in full score by. Symphonies symphonie fantastique, h 48 harold en italie, h 68 romeo et juliette, h 79 grande symphonie funebre et triomphale, h 80. Symphonie fantastique is a piece that can be destroyed by apathy in conducting. Berliozs symphonie fantastique is connected to the composers personal life. The march to the scaffold is the fourth of five movements in the symphonie fantastique. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
This melody appears in every movement of the symphony. It is an important piece of the early romantic period. Hector berliozs symphonie fantastique essay 1026 words. It is one of the most famous romantic works for orchestra. In 1999, the 1963 version was issued as part of the bernstein century edition bernstein century berlioz. This work, with its recurring basic theme, departed from traditional symphonies in its loose form and highly. This is transformed in the following movements, as he experiences a festive party, a stroll in the countryside, opium. Symphonie fantastique to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. Hector berlioz symphonie fantastique 30second excerpt. The story is about a love sick, depressed young artist, while in his despair. Low brass excerpts from berlioz symphonie fantastique. View the sheetmusic and listen to recordings of the excerpt. Became obsessed with angloirish actress playing ophelia and juliet in shakespeare program of 1827, love for her turned into creation of symphonie fantastique seen as an attempt to work out dramatic ideas in the framework of a beethoven symphony, but doesnt mimic beethovens musical style.
Symphonie fantastique by scottish chamber orchestra, berlioz, robin ticciati from amazons classical music store. The artist dreams he has gone to heaven, where his love is waiting for him. The symphonie fantastique was initially composed in 1830 and first performed in december of the same year under the direction of habeneck. G iven his regular commitment to working with periodinstrument orchestras, simon rattles berlioz with the berlin philharmonic might have been expected to. Given the emotional weight of fantastique, it is imperative that the soul of the program and raw emotion conveyed by berlioz is given at least as much consideration to the.