Review questionsReview questions

• What is program music?What is program music?• What is a symphonic poem?What is a symphonic poem?• What kind of piece is Smetana’s The What kind of piece is Smetana’s The

Moldau?Moldau?• What is this symphonic poem about?What is this symphonic poem about?• Why is it a nationalistic piece?Why is it a nationalistic piece?

Review questionsReview questions

• What types of works did Dvorak What types of works did Dvorak write?write?

• What piece did we study by Dvorak?What piece did we study by Dvorak?• What is Dvorak’s significance for What is Dvorak’s significance for

American music?American music?

AnnouncementsAnnouncements

• Exam II postponed until April 8Exam II postponed until April 8• Exam will cover everything through Exam will cover everything through

next Tuesday (4/1)next Tuesday (4/1)• Review sheet will handed out after Review sheet will handed out after

spring break- and posted on web site spring break- and posted on web site tomorrowtomorrow

• www.colorado.edu/music/Courses/www.colorado.edu/music/Courses/emus1832004emus1832004

19th c. choral music19th c. choral music

• Not the most important genre of Not the most important genre of the period, but some great the period, but some great examples…examples…

• Like Beethoven’s Missa SolemnisLike Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis• And Brahms’s German RequiemAnd Brahms’s German Requiem

Johannes BrahmsJohannes Brahms

• A more conservative composerA more conservative composer• Wrote absolute music in traditional Wrote absolute music in traditional

formsforms• Known for symphonies, chamber Known for symphonies, chamber

music, piano music, and the German music, piano music, and the German RequiemRequiem

Brahms: German RequiemBrahms: German Requiem

• The title Requiem refers to the The title Requiem refers to the Catholic funeral massCatholic funeral mass

• But this is not the standard Requiem But this is not the standard Requiem text-it is based on a German text-it is based on a German translation of Psalm 84translation of Psalm 84

• Written after the death of Brahms’s mother Written after the death of Brahms’s mother and his friend Robert Schumann (the and his friend Robert Schumann (the composer)composer)

Brahms: German RequiemBrahms: German Requiem

• Text deals with death and the afterlifeText deals with death and the afterlife

German RequiemGerman Requiem

• The entire work is in 7 movements The entire work is in 7 movements which form an archwhich form an arch

• 1-7, 2-6, 3-5 are alike1-7, 2-6, 3-5 are alike• Movement 4Movement 4 is the centerpiece is the centerpiece (Bach (Bach

also was fond of this way of structuring his also was fond of this way of structuring his music this way viz. the Cantata #80 we music this way viz. the Cantata #80 we studied)studied)

German Requiem mvt 4German Requiem mvt 4

• Listening guide 50Listening guide 50• Rondo form (with literal return of the Rondo form (with literal return of the

text)-what is rondo form?text)-what is rondo form?• ABACAABACA• Sections contrast in texture and Sections contrast in texture and

character, and shifts from major to character, and shifts from major to minor keysminor keys

• Each section appropriate for textEach section appropriate for text

Romantic OperaRomantic Opera

• national styles...national styles...• FranceFrance •Grand Opera- huge spectacles•Opera comique/Lyric Opera--

smaller, with spoken dialogue (Carmen)

Romantic OperaRomantic Opera

• ItalyItaly-- Bel canto singing style--- Bel canto singing style-lyrical, emphasis on singerlyrical, emphasis on singer

• GermanyGermany-- not too much -- not too much development until Wagner development until Wagner (next class’s topic)(next class’s topic)

Guiseppe VerdiGuiseppe Verdi

• 1813-19011813-1901• Most famous Italian opera Most famous Italian opera

composer of the periodcomposer of the period• Another composer with Another composer with nationalistnationalist

sympathies: active in the Italian sympathies: active in the Italian independence movementindependence movement

• His Hebrews chorus from His Hebrews chorus from NabuccoNabucco (1842) became an anthem for this (1842) became an anthem for this movementmovement

Guiseppe VerdiGuiseppe Verdi

• Also served in the Italian Also served in the Italian ParliamentParliament

• Wrote operas over a period of Wrote operas over a period of 50 years-last one written at age 50 years-last one written at age 8080

• Big changes in style during this Big changes in style during this timetime

Verdi’s OperasVerdi’s Operas

• Verdi’s music is divided into Verdi’s music is divided into “numbers” (arias, recit, “numbers” (arias, recit, choruses), yet fluid dramachoruses), yet fluid drama

• Followed conventions for arias-Followed conventions for arias-recitatives-ensemblesrecitatives-ensembles

• Great emphasis of the singer: Great emphasis of the singer: parts were written with specific parts were written with specific singers in mindsingers in mind

Verdi’s RigolettoVerdi’s Rigoletto

• Listening guide 51Listening guide 51• Story…Story…• Based on Victor Hugo play, The Based on Victor Hugo play, The

King is AmusedKing is Amused• Rigoletto is a court jester, enemies Rigoletto is a court jester, enemies

place a curse on himplace a curse on him

Verdi’s RigolettoVerdi’s Rigoletto

• Gilda is his daughterGilda is his daughter• Duke is a nasty seducer of women an Duke is a nasty seducer of women an

he’s after Gildahe’s after Gilda• Gilda gets abducted by Rigoletto’s Gilda gets abducted by Rigoletto’s

enemiesenemies• Sparafucile is an assassin slated to Sparafucile is an assassin slated to

kill the Dukekill the Duke

Verdi’s RigolettoVerdi’s Rigoletto

• Gilda and Rigoletto watch as the Gilda and Rigoletto watch as the Duke seduces Sparafucile’s sisterDuke seduces Sparafucile’s sister

• Gilda offers herself to be killed in Gilda offers herself to be killed in place of the Dukeplace of the Duke

• Rigoletto gets a body bag; thinks the Rigoletto gets a body bag; thinks the dke is inside, but it’s really Gildadke is inside, but it’s really Gilda

• Curse is fulfilledCurse is fulfilled

Verdi’s RigolettoVerdi’s Rigoletto

• Act 3 excerpts...Act 3 excerpts...• Duke-sings a famous tuneful Duke-sings a famous tuneful

STROPHIC song: Woman is STROPHIC song: Woman is fickle--ha hafickle--ha ha

• Song captures the Duke’s Song captures the Duke’s character perfectlycharacter perfectly

Verdi’s RigolettoVerdi’s Rigoletto

• Ensemble…Ensemble…• classic ensemble technique: classic ensemble technique:

each character responds each character responds differently to situation; all sing differently to situation; all sing together, but in different styles together, but in different styles (like Mozart’s Figaro(like Mozart’s Figaro

Verdi’s RigolettoVerdi’s Rigoletto

• Listen for differences in style: Listen for differences in style: Maddalena and the Duke are Maddalena and the Duke are passionate, singing in long passionate, singing in long lyrical lines..lyrical lines..

• While Gilda is angry: her While Gilda is angry: her singing is short and punctuatedsinging is short and punctuated