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Music History 212Spring 2011Larry StarrTA: Sarah Shebert

March 28, 2010Unfinished Symphony Schubert (Symphony No. 8 in B Minor)Ultimate RomanticNorrington conducting (historical tuning)

1822 reactionsDoesn t really startDominant phrase doesn t answer the dominant Dominant 9 th chord!!Begins with solo cello/bass lineCloboe introduces the themeThen the cello gets the theme

Waiting for the strings to do something importantNo balanced 4+4 phrases

Every single norm of the classical period is being called into question Harmony,rhythm, form, instrumentation, cadences4+5 phrase structureParing horns and bassons to get the 4 horn effect The opening theme with clarinet and oboe modulates! F natural in B minor (tritone) very unstableWhy does this work, even though it is calling into question all expectations?What is going on with the first 8 bars?How to you write a development when the exposition behaves in this way?

Development`Opening gestureObsessive use of the V9Cello and Bass in the lowest notes of their registerUse of the German6 chord creates more instabilityCan this lyrical theme come out? Vii07 chord says NO!Introduces new rhythm in windsTrombone tutti huge gesture they come in on the vii0 chords

The entire piece is about harmonic instability and these areas are explored fromevery aspect, Exposition, Development, and Recapitulation

The cadence on the minor dominant is highly unusualOn page.33, the theme cadences on B Minor for the first time in the entire pieceEnding gesture is a harmonization of the opening gesture

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Principles that are found in classical style will be used as a point of departure but constantly manipulated

Romantic composers emphasize individual expression sounds like no one elseThe piece tells us how to listen to it in the first two pages consistent within itself

Schubert limits the amount of thematic material so there is always somethingpresentDied at 31 in 1828, 600 songs, 9 symphonies, 15 string quartets, operas etc

Section April 1, 2011

Texts by Goethe for both of the songs 10% of his 600 lieder were text by Goethe

Gretchen am Spinnrade

Rondo formOr Modified strophic formFirst stanza is our A and is added in between 3+4, and at end2+3=B4+5+6=C7+8=DAccompaniment figure literally represents the spinning wheelPedal in the left hand represents spinning wheel, but also provides spinning wheelRight hand is constantly circles around one pitchVariations in dynamics and tempo in accompaniment figureLike the spinning wheel, Gretchen is stuck in the same pattern over and over

again=Always comes back to the same place/stuck in the relationshipsein chord is a G# fully diminished, which goes to a A dom.7+9 on Kuss, only

resolves after the formatta She sings the 7 th of the chord, most unstable

Takes Gretchen time to start up the spinning wheel

Erlkoning

Sort of through composed with repeating elementsAccompaniment is like a horse ridingProvides the thread for the through-composed with the bass line figureErlkoning seduces the child

Accp. Changes only for Erlkoning, melodic figure is major and lilting, like alullaby. He shifts to minor for his last line and if you are unwilling, I will take youanywaySons response is in the faceFather in the lower register

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I dream of Jeanie with the Light brown hair Stephen Foster (1854)Parlor SongsEarly to Mid 19 th century, there wasn t a gap between popular and art songToday, Schubert is still played in formal settingsToday, Foster is sung in kindergarten classrooms

When this music was written, amatuers and professionals would perform in thehome for private performances

Mendelssohn VierteSymphonie Italian SymphonyHas the color of Italian folk dances

The main theme does not end where expected. It plays with the dominant

First movement is in a dance like 6/8, very uncommonOn its outer structure, it is a very typical Sonata Allegro formWhat makes it romantic?

, attention is given to the winds, which is a very romantic ideaTransition is modal (not sure if we are going to the major or minor

dominant) clearly as an example of romantic harmoniesIt has little aspects of romantic color (minor coloration, instrumentation,

phrase structure)Two contrasting themes (strings/winds) in MajorDevelopment begins with a NEW minor theme, and basically developing that

new theme

It sounds like a 3 rd Italian dance, the minor is used as a folk coloring . Not SAD. Minor used in a romantic way.

2 nd Movement Minor Mode with a Natural 7 th D minor as the key is unusual (would be D Major)Introduced by oboe, violas, and bassoons mixed timbre furthers the exotic aspectsObligato flute duet

Third mvt. Returns to A Major Dance Movement in triple time