Late Program Music

Question 1

Realism

Answer 1

Addressing the here and now of what people are caring about.

Question 2

Late romantic instrumental music de-centralized music attention. What does this mean?

Answer 2

Less Euro-centralized, more nationalism.

Question 3

How is late romantic form different from the early romantic?

Answer 3

Boundaries are pushed a little further. Form follows expression (similar to old models), but there is much more freedom.

Question 4

How is the late romantic harmony, meter, and melody different from the early romantic?

Answer 4

Greater dissonance, drive, subtlety, contrast, more more more.

Question 5

Program Music

Answer 5

Piece is designed according to some preconceived narrative, or is designed to evoke a certain scene or atmosphere.

Question 6

Concert overture came from…

Answer 6

Opera overture.

Question 7

Program Symphony

Answer 7

Berlioz dreams up an odd dream on which he’s going to base 5 movements of a symphony.

Question 8

Symphonic Poem

Answer 8

Invented by Liszt, Single-movement and free-form (reminiscent of existing forms).

Question 9

What was usually the form of the concert overture?

Answer 9

Sonata form.

Question 10

Romeo and Juliet was called a ___, not ___.

Answer 10

Overture-fantasy, not symphonic poem.

Question 11

Overture implies ___ form.

Answer 11

Sonata.

Question 12

Why did Tchaikovsky call Romeo and Juliet an overture-fantasy?

Answer 12

Because the form (overture) was supposed to be sonata form, but fantasy means “freedom.”

Question 13

Tchaikovsky used sonata form as the context for representing…

Answer 13

Interactions between two sides.

Question 14

What are some musical themes that align with basic elements of the story in Romeo and Juliet?

Answer 14

• Hymn-like opening theme (Friar Lawrence theme).
• Vendetta theme (conflict between two families).
• Famous love theme.

Question 15

___ form (with slow introduction) allows thematic interaction in Romeo and Juliet.

Answer 15

Sonata.

Question 16

Thematic Transformation

Answer 16

• Variation of existing theme.
• Alters the character.
• Reflects psychological progression.

Question 17

Describe Tchaikovsky’s thematic transformations:

Answer 17

• Hymn theme transforms.

- Love theme transforms (twice).

Question 18

Hymn theme in Romeo and Juliet transforms how?

Answer 18

• Brass plays it the second time.
• Slow tempo at first, fast tempo when changed.
• Louder the second time.
• Texture switched from being sparse (homophonic) to polyphonic.

Question 19

Nationalism, as a concept, grows in the ___s.

Answer 19

1800.

Question 20

Is Italian, German, and French music considered nationalistic?

Answer 20

No, because their music was mainstream.

Question 21

What makes music national?

Answer 21

• Rejecting foreign models.
• Folk tunes.
• Program music associated with national stories, theme, geography.
• Text from national poetry, literature, history, legends.
• Music associated with institutions (such as Russian church music).

Question 22

Mussorgsky

Answer 22

Self-taught, lifted Russian nationalism up (unlike Tchaikovsky, who was known to write Russian music just because his music was unique).

Question 23

Pictures at an Exhibition

Answer 23

Set of short programmatic pieces originally for piano, but often heard with orchestra. Written in memory of Russian artist Viktor Hartmann by Mussorgsky. All 10 movements connected by a promenade theme, as is all the paintings. Recurrence = cohesiveness. All themes combined at end to paint “Russian” picture.