Book contents
- Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique
- New Cambridge Music Handbooks
- Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Illustrations and Box
- Tables
- Music Examples
- Preface and Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- 1 Introduction, Programme, Outline
- 2 Literary and Musical Romanticism
- 3 Symphonie fantastique in Berlioz’s Lifetime
- 4 First Movement
- 5 Second Movement
- 6 Third Movement
- 7 Fourth Movement
- 8 Fifth Movement
- 9 The Sequel
- 10 Reception
- 11 Other Approaches
- Select Bibliography
- Index
2 - Literary and Musical Romanticism
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 November 2023
- Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique
- New Cambridge Music Handbooks
- Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Illustrations and Box
- Tables
- Music Examples
- Preface and Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- 1 Introduction, Programme, Outline
- 2 Literary and Musical Romanticism
- 3 Symphonie fantastique in Berlioz’s Lifetime
- 4 First Movement
- 5 Second Movement
- 6 Third Movement
- 7 Fourth Movement
- 8 Fifth Movement
- 9 The Sequel
- 10 Reception
- 11 Other Approaches
- Select Bibliography
- Index
Summary
No work of art, however original, is created in isolation from the life and culture of its time and place. Politically and artistically, Berlioz lived in interesting times. The year of Symphonie fantastique, 1830, was a year of revolution and a key year in the development of French romanticism. In addition to reviewing the artistic scene, this chapter considers aspects of Berlioz’s musical education and earlier work. This is set in relief by comparing his ‘Fantastic’ symphony with the Reformation Symphony by Felix Mendelssohn, which was composed about the same time. Differences in their the two composers’ musical upbringing and religious views are reflected in the two symphonies, including their use of traditional musical material.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique , pp. 14 - 33Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023