Chapter 16The Early Romantics.ppt

Chapter 16:The Early Romantics Early Romantic Program Music Key Terms Program music Concert overture Program symphony Idée fixe Dies irae Col legno Early Romantic Program Music Program music = instrumental music associated with poems, stories, etc. Grew up in opera overtures Important program genres – concert overture, program symphony, symphonic poem Franz Liszt(1811-1886) Hungarian composer Learned music from his father at the Esterházy estate (Haydn’s employer!) Played for Beethoven at age eleven Career as virtuoso pianist based in Paris Dazzled audiences with incredible technique And with dashing looks, personality, affairs Wrote reams of fiercely difficult piano music 2nd career as conductor in Weimar Wrote symphonic poems, championed Wagner Felix Mendelssohn(1809-1847) From upper-class family of bankers Pursued career as successful composer And as pianist, organist, conductor, educator Founded Leipzig Conservatory of Music Led first performance of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion in nearly a century His music keeps a firm foundation in Classical technique Wrote concert overtures, oratorios, piano works, symphonies, violin concerto, etc. Fanny Mendelssohn(1805-1847) Felix was very close to older sister Fanny Fanny showed as much talent as Felix Married painter Wilhelm Hensel Fanny also a highly prolific composer Wrote music of all kinds, including oratorios, piano works, chamber music, etc. Weekly performances at Mendelssohn home Women composers not taken seriously Little of her music was published, and it was rarely performed except for family The Concert Overture:Felix Mendelssohn An important step from opera overture to symphonic poem Concert overture resembles an opera overture, but without the opera! A single-movement orchestral work intended for concert performance Structure rooted in sonata form Often based on a play, long poem, or novel Mendelssohn wrote some popular ones A Midsummer Night’s Dream the Hebrides Overture (Fingal’s Cave) Hector Berlioz