• Watch this analysis of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique (15 mins) and take bullet point notes explaining each

ch movement. (300 words). Use wikipedia and Tom

Pankhurt as well if you need to.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RODOzH4Q784
• Then choose 1 of the 5 movements to listen to and follow the score. FInd the idee fixe in the movement and screen shot it, then explain how it is treated in
the movement you choose. What instrumentation/texture/rhythmic changes/ time sig etc. and what it is representing in the movement. ((300 words)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA4WIZisLgc&t=2488s
• In total you should write 600 words.
• MAKE SURE YOU CAN RECOGNISE THE IDEE FIXE TUNE IN EACH MOVEMENT.
Symphonie Fantastique
Hector Berlioz
Overview
• It is extremely programmatic as it is about Berlioz's self-destructive passion for Harriet, an Irish
theatre actress
o Although we have seen some programmatic pieces previously, e.g. Bethoven 3, this particular piece was
unashamedly very programmatic, as Berlioz was keen on sharing his failed love story with the audience
• 5 movements long – links back to Beethoven 6
• Idee fixe throughout – links back to Beethoven 5
• The orchestration is completely revolutionary for its time – almost 100 players
o 2 harps
o Timpani quartet
o Doubling instruments
o Ophicleide
 Idee fixe – Throughout the movements
Movement 1
 Movement 2 is called 'Un Bal', which portrays a waltz ball. There is an addition of 2 harps
in the orchestra, which emphasises the elegance and grace of the ball. The idee fixe is
heard again and intertwines with the waltz theme.

The first time, the idee fixe with the

waltz theme played in the accompanying
strings

The second time, only the idee

fixe is heard by the solo clarinet,
while it is accompanied by a
pedal in the flute and cordini,
which is played 3rds and 6ths
apart
Movement 3 depicts the journey of how Berlioz explores the countryside in hopes of finding inner peace. The
rhythm has been varied from the original idea in movement 1. Here, there is also an anacrusis, and the note lengths
have shortened. The idee fixe is accompanied by a series of descending conjunct notes, which is a recurring idea of
movement 3. This showcases that no matter how hard he tries, Berlioz is unable to forget Harriet.
This part of the idee fixe is a sequence and is meant to repeat one more time. However,
Berlioz decides to stretch and hold the second note. During this, the accompanying bassoon,
violins and altos play in octave unison beginning on F; while only the contrabasses and viols
play in octave unison beginning on D.
 Movement 4 – only this short snippet of the idee fixe is played solo and monophonically
by the clarinet in between the fortissimo climax

Berlioz also gave very specific instructions on how

to play the timpani at the beginning of the
movement
 Movement 5 – the idee fixe sounds very snappy and unpleasant

1st playing

2nd playing

Now it sounds like shrills and is a grotesque tune.

It shows Harriet mocking Berlioz from Hell
Movement 5 - 'Witches' Sabbath'
• Parallel diminished 7ths used to create a sense of spookiness and instability
• In the opening:
o Very slow tempo marking, 'Larghetto'
o All the violins, violas, and altos play in parallel thirds
Immediately sounds ominous
o Ascending chromatic notes in the cello and bass
o The timpani playing piano crotchet notes on the last beat of the bar makes it sound quite distance

• There is a bell that chimes, marking the beginning of the playing of Dies Irae.
o This is now played on tubas, though Berlioz originally wrote this part for the ophicleide (a cross between a bassoon and saxaphone, unfortunarly extinct now)

• Berlioz also wrote a fugue which was the counterpoint of the movement. This was a difficult piece for him to write, again representing what
Hell meant to him. This shows the witches' dance.
o During this, he instructs the violinists to play 'col lengo', which means to bang the wooden back of the bow against the strings.

• The witches' dance is played simultaneuosly with the Dies Irae. This was most definitely a controversial appraoch, as he is almost parodying
the Catholic Requim Mass by paying it with a Satanic dance from Hell.
• This movement ends with a series of IV-I plagal cadences to suggest the religious overtones of his love for the woman.
o Brahms 4 also ends with plagal cadences