Symphonie fantastic
Full name: Symphonie fantastique: Épisode de la vie d'un artiste … en cinq parties, Op. 14
(Fantastical Symphony: Episode in the Life of an Artist … in Five Sections)
Symphonie fantastique is narrative program music about unrequited love.
It is autobiographical in that its subject matter is taken from Berlioz's yearning
for a relationship with Irish Shakespearian actress Harriet Smithson.
for a relationship with Irish Shakespearian actress Harriet Smithson.
The symphony paints a psychological portrait of Berlioz's emotions (expressing
personal, subjective, emotions was central to 19th century Romanticism).
personal, subjective, emotions was central to 19th century Romanticism).
The emotions often change rapidly and are sometimes conflicting (e.g. hope & fear)
Symphonie fantastique goes beyond Berlioz's desires for Smithson. For instance,
Movement 3 addresses Berlioz's fond memories of his childhood in rural France.
Movement 4 recalls 'The Terror' of the French Revolution, and Movement 5
evokes the creepy and diabolical nature of a witches' sabbath.
Symphonie fantastique broke many of the 'rules' of symphonic composing, just as
many Romantics would break the rules of other genres (or just create new genres).
A List of Program Music Works (although some are arguably not program music)
1. New melodic and harmonic concepts
2. Larger orchestra (90+ instruments) - 2 harps, more brass instruments (2 ophicleides)
E♭ clarinet (shrill, harsh)
3. Romantic themes - love, anguish, death, magic, hallucination, the diabolical,
A List of Program Music Works (although some are arguably not program music)
Harriet Smithson (1800 - 1854)
1. New melodic and harmonic concepts
2. Larger orchestra (90+ instruments) - 2 harps, more brass instruments (2 ophicleides)
E♭ clarinet (shrill, harsh)
3. Romantic themes - love, anguish, death, magic, hallucination, the diabolical,
pastoral, otherworldliness
4. Largely ignores the movement formats of previous symphonies:
Sonata form, ternary, rondo, theme and variations, scherzo
Introduction to Symphonie fantastique
What is the symphony about?
The Storyline in Five Movements
The idee-fixe - Bernstein clip (2:30)
Influence of Beethoven - Funeral March from Symphony No. 3 in movement 4
4. Largely ignores the movement formats of previous symphonies:
Sonata form, ternary, rondo, theme and variations, scherzo
Introduction to Symphonie fantastique
What is the symphony about?
The Storyline in Five Movements
The idee-fixe - Bernstein clip (2:30)
Influence of Beethoven - Funeral March from Symphony No. 3 in movement 4
- Symphony No. 6 "Pastoral" in movement 3