Movement V. "Songe d'une nuit du sabbat" ("Dream of a witches' Sabbath")
Radio Orchestra of France, Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel, cond. (9:30)
The dream continues:
"He sees himself at a witches' sabbath, in the midst of a hideous gathering of
shades, sorcerers and monsters of every kind who have come together for his
funeral. Strange sounds, groans, outbursts of laughter; distant shouts which
seem to be answered by more shouts.
The beloved melody appears once more, but has now lost its noble and shy
character; it is now no more than a vulgar tune, trivial and grotesque: it is she
who is coming to the sabbath ... Roar of delight at her arrival ... She joins the
diabolical orgy ...
The funeral knell tolls, burlesque parody of the Dies irae, the dance of the
witches. The dance of the witches combined with the Dies irae."
Dies irae = Day of wrath
1. The orchestra is full of spooky sounds as witches, monsters and sorcerers harass
the musician. Notice how Berlioz often lets the notes (e.g. the solo piccolo) go flat
(unheard of before this). Many of these sound ideas are brand new to orchestra
composing but they would remain popular for the rest of the 19th century.
2. (1:30) The idée fixe returns as an squawking, mocking clarinet in a grotesques
dance piece. The ghouls carry on.
3. Dies irae - 12th century Catholic chant - Prayer for the Dead (play)
(2:48) Dies irae starts with death chimes. Berlioz scores the Dies irae in the tubas
with a bassoon.
4. As the witches sabbath continues, Berlioz employs extremely bright and powerful brass -
again, something that would be popular in 19th century romantic music.
Dies irae = Day of wrath
1. The orchestra is full of spooky sounds as witches, monsters and sorcerers harass
the musician. Notice how Berlioz often lets the notes (e.g. the solo piccolo) go flat
(unheard of before this). Many of these sound ideas are brand new to orchestra
composing but they would remain popular for the rest of the 19th century.
2. (1:30) The idée fixe returns as an squawking, mocking clarinet in a grotesques
dance piece. The ghouls carry on.
3. Dies irae - 12th century Catholic chant - Prayer for the Dead (play)
(2:48) Dies irae starts with death chimes. Berlioz scores the Dies irae in the tubas
with a bassoon.
4. As the witches sabbath continues, Berlioz employs extremely bright and powerful brass -
again, something that would be popular in 19th century romantic music.