Symphonie fantastique: The First Fully Romantic Symphony
Composed by Hector Berlioz - 1829 - 1830
Premiered December 5, 1830 at the Conservatoire de Paris
Hector Berlioz (1803 - 1869)
Course Description
Leonard Bernstein called French composer Hector Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique
"the first psychedelic symphony." It was also the first symphony to have a narrative. It
tells the story of a musician suffering from unrequited love for a woman. Composed in
1829, Symphonie fantastique is one of the first great works of the Romantic era. Its
themes of love, anguish, magic, hallucination, death and the diabolical became hallmarks
of later 19th century music. Berlioz's masterpiece influenced many composers including
Franz Liszt, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Richard Wagner.
Explore the symphony through instructor presentations and video performances
by renowned conductors and orchestras. Understand Berlioz's idiosyncratic melodic
and harmonic concepts that broke new ground in composition. Recognize the work's
famous idée fixe, the fragment of melody representing the woman's charms that returns
themes of love, anguish, magic, hallucination, death and the diabolical became hallmarks
of later 19th century music. Berlioz's masterpiece influenced many composers including
Franz Liszt, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Richard Wagner.
Explore the symphony through instructor presentations and video performances
by renowned conductors and orchestras. Understand Berlioz's idiosyncratic melodic
and harmonic concepts that broke new ground in composition. Recognize the work's
famous idée fixe, the fragment of melody representing the woman's charms that returns
in different guises to haunt the musician throughout the work.
Learn details of Berlioz's life and personality. Class discussion is encouraged.
Course Introduction
The five movements of Symphonie fantastique:
I. "Rêveries – Passions" - "Daydreams - Passions"
II. "Un bal" - "A ball"
III. "Scène aux champs" - "Scene in the country"
IV. "Marche au supplice" - "March to the scaffold"
V. "Songe d'une nuit du sabbat" - "Dream of a witches' Sabbath"