Fantastique

Berlioz

Symphonie Fantastique 5th Movement – Songe d’une nuit du sabbat

Hector

EXPLORE

EXPLORE

French composer Hector Berlioz (1803 – 1869) wrote

Symphonie Fantastique in 1830

EXPLORE



It is a symphony in five movements each with their own

descriptive title

EXPLORE




descriptive title

It is a perfect example of Programme Music and Berlioz

even wrote his own Programme Notes to accompany the

music

EXPLORE




descriptive title



music

Symphonie Fantastique is also called ‘An episode in the

life of an Artist’ and Berlioz wrote the work after falling

desperately in love with the actress, Harriet Smithson

EXPLORE




descriptive title



music

Symphonie Fantastique is also called ‘An episode in the

life of an Artist’ and Berlioz wrote the work after falling

desperately in love with the actress, Harriet Smithson

His love was unrequited at first which nearly sent him

mad but he persevered and they eventually married a

few years later

EXPLORE

In the story, the ‘Artist’ (i.e. Berlioz), has taken opium

and goes on a journey of five drug induced fantasies

EXPLORE



Berlioz uses one melodic theme throughout the entire

work to represent the Artist’s love interest (Harriet

Smithson)

EXPLORE





Smithson)

The theme is transformed in each movement to

represent the character of that particular dream – this is

called an ‘idée fixe’ which literally means ‘fixed idea’

EXPLORE





Smithson)

The theme is transformed in each movement to

represent the character of that particular dream – this is

called an ‘idée fixe’ which literally means ‘fixed idea’

The 5th

movement is called Songe d’une nuit du sabbat

or Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath and Berlioz creates a

nightmarish version of his own funeral, complete with all

sorts of ghouls and ghosts

EXPLORE

This is what Berlioz’ own notes say:

EXPLORE

This is what Berlioz’ own notes say:

He sees himself at a witches’ sabbath, in the midst of a

hideous gathering of shades, sorcerers and monsters of

every kind who have come together for his funeral. Strange

sounds, groans, outbursts of laughter; distant shouts

which seem to be answered by more shouts. The beloved

melody appears once more, but has now lost its noble and

shy character; it is now no more than a vulgar dance tune,

trivial and grotesque: it is she who is coming to the

sabbath… Roar of delight at her arrival… She joins the

diabolical orgy… The funeral knell tolls, burlesque parody

of the Dies irae, the dance of the witches. The dance of

the witches combined with the Dies irae.

EXPERIENCE

EXPERIENCE

Listen to the 5th

movement of Symphonie Fantastique –

now that you know a bit of the background try and

conjure up some images that the music might be

portraying

EXPERIENCE

Listen to the 5th

movement of Symphonie Fantastique –

now that you know a bit of the background try and

conjure up some images that the music might be

portraying

Now let’s take a closer look at the idée fixe to see how

Berlioz transforms his theme:

Here is the original theme as first seen in the opening of the

first movement. As Berlioz himself said, it is of noble and shy

character:

This is played by solo flute and the first violin section and the

notes are very legato, creating a feeling of calm

Click here to listen:

And here is the theme from the 5th

movement, now a ‘vulgar

dance tune, trivial and grotesque’:

This time, the melody is played on the Eb Clarinet but right up

until bar 19 the notes are exactly the same as the original

Click here to listen:

Let’s take a closer look at the first phrase of each of the two

themes:


themes:

If we connect each note you will see that the pitches Berlioz

uses are identical:


themes:


uses are identical:


themes:


uses are identical:

In the second version of the theme, Berlioz has changed the

time signature, made the note lengths shorter and added

acciaccaturas and trills

Watch the short film where Duncan

Swindells, Principal Bass Clarinet in the

RSNO, talks about the clarinet section,

and how Berlioz uses the instrument to

create different characters and moods in

this piece

EXPERIENCE

RESPOND

RESPOND

What period of music is this piece from ?

RESPOND


The 5th

movement can easily be divided up into three

sections: the opening section with the idée fixe theme,

the Dies Irae which literally means Day of Wrath and the

Ronde du Sabbat or Round Dance

RESPOND


The 5th





Click here to listen to the opening of the Dies Irae:

RESPOND


The 5th






The theme, introduced by the bassoons, is made up of

continuous dotted minims. The horns and trombones

then repeat the theme but it has been altered. How has

it changed?

RESPOND


The 5th






The theme, introduced by the bassoons, is made up of

continuous dotted minims. The horns and trombones

then repeat the theme but it has been altered. How has

it changed?

The notes are the same but something has happened to

the rhythm. What is the musical term for this?

RESPOND

The Round Dance takes its name from the musical form

that it is written in. In music, what is a round? Can you

think of another name for a more complicated and

involved round?

RESPOND




involved round?

Click here to listen to the end of the fugue:

RESPOND




involved round?


What is happening here? What two themes have been

combined?

RESPOND

What instrument does Berlioz use that makes it really

obvious that this music is about a funeral?




involved round?



combined?

RESPOND

What instrument does Berlioz use that makes it really

obvious that this music is about a funeral?




involved round?



combined?

Create your own 8 bar ‘idée fixe’ keeping the notes and

rhythm very simple. Now, like Berlioz, change things

like the time signature, rhythms, instruments and

phrasing and see what happens

Fantastique

Education

pitches berlioz uses

french composer hector

music symphonie fantastique

drug induced fantasies

melodic theme

harriet smithson

original theme

closer look