|
Symphonie Fantastique
' (''Fantastic Symphony: Episode in the Life of an Artist … in Five Sections'') Opus number, Op. 14, is a program music, programmatic symphony written by Hector Berlioz in 1830. The first performance was at the Paris Conservatoire on 5 December 1830. Berlioz wrote semi-autobiographical programme notes for the piece that allude to the Romanticism, romantic sufferings of a gifted artist who has poisoned himself with opium because of his unrequited love for a beautiful and fascinating woman (in real life, the Shakespearean actress Harriet Smithson, who in 1833 became the composer's wife). The composer, who revered Beethoven, followed the latter's unusual addition in the Symphony No. 6 (Beethoven), ''Pastoral'' Symphony of a fifth movement to the normal four of a classical symphony. The artist's reveries take him to a ball and to a pastoral scene in a field, which is interrupted by a hallucinatory march to the Scaffold (execution site), scaffold, leading to a grotesque satanic dan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Witches' Sabbath
A Witches' Sabbath is a purported gathering of those believed to practice witchcraft and other rituals. The phrase became especially popular in the 20th century. Origin of the phrase The most infamous and influential work of witch-hunting lore, ''Malleus Maleficarum'' (1486) does not contain the word sabbath (). The first recorded English use of ''sabbath'' referring to sorcery was in 1660, in Francis Brooke's translation of Vincent Le Blanc's book ''The World Surveyed'': "Divers Sorcerers ��have confessed that in their Sabbaths ��they feed on such fare." The phrase "Witches' Sabbath" appeared in a 1613 translation by "W.B." of Sébastien Michaëlis's ''Admirable History of Possession and Conversion of a Penitent Woman'': "He also said to Magdalene, Art not thou an accursed woman, that the Witches Sabbath ( French: ''le Sabath''] is kept here?" The phrase is used by Henry Charles Lea in his ''History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages'' (1888). Writing in 1900, Germ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning common today: a work usually consisting of multiple distinct sections or movement (music), movements, often four, with the first movement in sonata form. Symphonies are almost always scored for an orchestra consisting of a string section (violin, viola, cello, and double bass), Brass instrument, brass, Woodwind instrument, woodwind, and Percussion instrument, percussion Musical instrument, instruments which altogether number about 30 to 100 musicians. Symphonies are notated in a Full score, musical score, which contains all the instrument parts. Orchestral musicians play from parts which contain just the notated music for their own instrument. Some symphonies also contain vocal parts (e.g., Ludwig van Beethoven, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 (B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lélio
''Lélio, ou Le retour à la vie'' (English: ''Lélio, or the Return to Life''), Op. 14b, is a work incorporating music and spoken text by the French composer Hector Berlioz, intended as a sequel to his '' Symphonie fantastique''. It is written for a narrator, solo tenor and baritone, mixed chorus, and an orchestra including piano. Composed in Italy in 1831 and initially performed at the Conservatoire de Paris on December 9, 1832, as ''Le retour à la vie, mélologue en six parties,'' ''Lélio'' incorporated pre-existing compositions. Upon Franz Liszt's solicitation, it underwent revision for a 1855 performance in Weimar and was published the subsequent year. David Cairns highlights ''Lélio'' for its unparalleled "immediate impact" within Berlioz's catalogue. Its early appeal, rooted in the fusion of Romantic aesthetics and the interplay between declamation and music, has, however, led to its perception as dated, thus its infrequent revival and recording in contemporary times. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hugh Macdonald (musicologist)
Hugh John Macdonald (born 31 January 1940 in Newbury, Berkshire) is an English musicologist chiefly known for his work within the music of the 19th century, especially in France. He has been general editor of the ''Hector Berlioz: New Edition of the Complete Works'' since its inception in 1967 and has been particularly active in the revival of interest in Berlioz's music. He is also the author of several entries within '' The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians''. Biography Macdonald studied under Raymond Leppard at the University of Cambridge from 1958 to 1966. He went on to pursue doctoral studies, earning a Ph.D. in 1969 from Cambridge, after researching the music of Berlioz for a dissertation consisting of a critical edition of ''Les Troyens''. He served on the faculty of music at Cambridge from 1966 to 1971 and on the music faculty at University of Oxford from 1971 to 1980. He became the Gardiner Professor of Music at Glasgow University in 1980, where he remained until 19 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ophelia
Ophelia () is a character in William Shakespeare's drama ''Hamlet'' (1599–1601). She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes and potential wife of Prince Hamlet. Due to Hamlet's actions, Ophelia ultimately enters into a state of madness that leads to her drowning. Along with Queen Gertrude, Ophelia is one of only two female characters in the original play. Name Like most characters in ''Hamlet'', Ophelia's name is not Danish. It first appeared in Jacopo Sannazaro's 1504 poem '' Arcadia'' (as ''Ofelia''), probably derived from Ancient Greek ὠφέλεια (''ōphéleia'', "benefit"). Character Ophelia is obedient to her father and well-loved by many characters. When Polonius tells her to stop seeing Hamlet, she does so. When he tells her to set up a meeting so that he and Claudius could spy on him, she does so. Ophelia is a foil to Hamlet and Laertes, contrasting and inspiring their behavior. Plot In Ophelia's first speaking appe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (theatre), play depicts Prince Hamlet and his attempts to exact revenge against his uncle, King Claudius, Claudius, who has murdered Ghost (Hamlet), Hamlet's father in order to seize his throne and marry Gertrude (Hamlet), Hamlet's mother. ''Hamlet'' is considered among the "most powerful and influential tragedies in the English language", with a story capable of "seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others." It is widely considered one of the greatest plays of all time. Three different early versions of the play are extant: the Hamlet Q1, First Quarto (Q1, 1603); the Second Quarto (Q2, 1604); and the First Folio (F1, 1623). Each version includes lines and passages missing from the others. Many works have been pointed to as possible s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the " Bard of Avon" or simply "the Bard". His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted. Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592 he began a successful career in Lon ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melinda O'Neal
Melinda O'Neal is a conductor of choral and choral-orchestral music, professor emerita of music, and author. O'Neal was music director and conductor of the Handel Society of Dartmouth College (oratorio society of 100 student and community voices) 1979–2004, and founder and conductor of Dartmouth College Chamber Singers (30-voices) 1979-1996. She was professor of music at Dartmouth College 1979–2018, leading ensembles and teaching courses in conducting, vocal literature, Berlioz and Brahms, and music theory. In 2016 and 2017 O'Neal taught choral literature courses for conducting graduate students at Indiana University. She was visiting professor at Towson University (MD) 2005, Indiana University 1999, and University of Georgia 1996-97. As an independent conductor, O'Neal was artistic director and conductor of Handel Choir of Baltimore 2004-2013, inaugurating both the Handel Period Instrument Orchestra and Chandos Singers. She co-founded and led the Boston Vocal Artists' Sonique ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Irish Actress Harriett Constance Smithson (1800-1854), By George Clint
''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the most frequently used word in the English language; studies and analyses of texts have found it to account for seven percent of all printed English-language words. It is derived from gendered articles in Old English which combined in Middle English and now has a single form used with nouns of any gender. The word can be used with both singular and plural nouns, and with a noun that starts with any letter. This is different from many other languages, which have different forms of the definite article for different genders or numbers. Pronunciation In most dialects, "the" is pronounced as (with the voiced dental fricative followed by a schwa) when followed by a consonant sound, and as (homophone of the archaic pronoun ''thee'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Programme Notes
A concert program (in American English) or concert programme (in British English) is a selection and ordering, or programming, of pieces to be performed at an occasion, or concert. Concert programs can be organized into a booklet. In some occasions the programs might be simpler, and will be put on a piece of paper. Programs may be influenced by the available ensemble of instruments, by performer ability or skill, by theme (historical, programmatic, or technical), by musical concerns (such as form), or by allowable time. For example, a brass ensemble may perform an "all brass" program, the pieces of which may be chosen by a theme, such as "all Bach", and the chosen pieces may be ordered so that they build in intensity as the concert progresses. Concert programs may be put together by ensembles, conductors, or ensemble directors, and are often explained in program notes. The structure of modern concert programs can be traced back to the contributions of Felix Mendelssohn while he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dictionnaire De L'Académie Française
The (; English: Dictionary of the French academy) is a French language dictionary published by the . The is an institution tasked with establishing rules for the use of the French language, the compilation of a dictionary being one of its primary tasks. Although it makes recommendations for the correct use of French, they carry no legal power, and are frequently disregarded, including by government authorities. The ninth edition was completed in November 2024, and is available online in its entirety along with all previous editions. Publication A special Commission (''Commission du dictionnaire'') composed of several (but not all) of the members of the Académie undertakes the compilation of the dictionary. It has published thirteen editions of the dictionary, of which three were preliminary, eight were complete, and two were supplements for specialised words. The completed edition of the , the first official dictionary of the French language, was presented upon completion by t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Idée Fixe (psychology)
In psychology, an ''idée fixe'' (; ) is a preoccupation of mind believed to be firmly resistant to any attempt to modify it, a fixation. Background According to intellectual historian Jan E. Goldstein, the initial introduction of ''idée fixe'' as a medical term occurred around 1812 in connection with monomania. The French psychiatrist Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol considered an ''idée fixe'' – in other words an unhealthy fixation on a single object – to be the principal symptom of monomania. The term ''idée fixe'' had already seeped from psychiatric discourse into literary language before Hector Berlioz employed it in a musical contextIn music, the term ''idée fixe'' refers to a compositional device similar to that of a ''leitmotif''. See: in his programmatic ''Symphonie fantastique'' (subtitled ''Episode in the Life of an Artist...'') of 1830 to denote a recurring melodic theme that references the composer's own romantic obsession (or erotomania) with the actress ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
