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Nineteenth Century Musical Study Guide

Apr 2, 2025

Study Guide: The Nineteenth Century - Chapters 37, 39-42, 44-45

Quiz Details

  • Date: April 3
  • Format: In-class via Google form link
  • Points: 20

Key Definitions

Musical Terms

  • Lied: German art song for solo voice and piano, prominent in the Romantic period.
  • Song Cycle: A series of songs designed to be performed in sequence.
  • Nocturne: A dreamy, lyrical piano piece; often evokes night themes. (Chopin)
  • Rubato: Subtle rhythmic manipulation in performance.
  • Etude: A short musical composition designed for practice of a particular skill.
  • Polonaise: Stately Polish dance in triple time.
  • Mazurka: Lively Polish folk dance in triple time with strong accents.
  • Program Symphony: Multi-movement orchestral composition telling a story or depicting a scene.
  • IdĂ©e Fixe: A recurring theme representing a specific emotion or character (Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique).
  • Concert Overture: Single-movement orchestral piece often based on a literary or descriptive program.

Concepts and Themes

  • Nationalism in Music:
    • Rise of nationalist elements in music to express national identity.
    • Incorporation of folk music, national themes, and legends.
    • Development of distinct national styles (e.g., Chopin, Dvorak, Wagner).
  • Leitmotif: Recurrent theme associated with a particular person, idea, or situation.
  • Gesamtkunstwerk: "Total work of art" integrating various art forms (championed by Wagner).

Special Areas

  • Chapter 40: Music, Gender, and Domesticity
  • Chapter 41: Musical Instruments and New Technologies

Music Titles and Content

Erlkönig

  • Poem by Goethe: Depicts the death of a child pursued by the Erlking.
  • Franz Schubert's Composition: A notable setting of Goethe’s poem.

Rigoletto

  • Story: A tragic opera by Verdi about the hunchbacked jester Rigoletto and his daughter Gilda.
  • **Main Characters: **
    • Duke of Mantua: Morally corrupt ruler.
    • Rigoletto: The jester who mocks others.
    • Gilda: Rigoletto's daughter, seduced by the Duke.
    • Sparafucile: Assassin hired by Rigoletto.
  • Plot Points:
    • Rigoletto mocks a nobleman and is cursed.
    • Gilda is seduced by the Duke.
    • Rigoletto plots revenge but faces tragedy when Gilda sacrifices herself.

The Ring of the Nibelung

  • Composer: Richard Wagner
  • Structure: A cycle of four operas:
    • Das Rheingold
    • Die WalkĂŒre
    • Siegfried
    • GötterdĂ€mmerung
  • Themes: Power, love, greed, betrayal, and fate.
  • Main Characters: Gods, mortals, Valkyries, Rhinemaidens, Giants, and Nibelungs.

Composers

  • Franz Schubert: Austrian, known for Lieder and symphonies (Unfinished Symphony).
  • Clara Schumann: German pianist/composer, promoted Robert Schumann’s legacy.
  • FrĂ©dĂ©ric Chopin: Polish composer, famous for piano works.
  • Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel: German composer, known for chamber music and piano pieces.
  • Hector Berlioz: French, known for Symphonie fantastique.
  • Felix Mendelssohn: German, famous for Wedding March.
  • Edvard Grieg: Norwegian, known for Peer Gynt Suite.
  • Giuseppe Verdi: Italian opera composer, known for Aida, La Traviata, Rigoletto.
  • Richard Wagner: German opera composer, known for The Ring Cycle. Controversial figure due to antisemitic views.