PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
ROMEO AND JULIET OVERTURE-FANTASY
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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) was a Russian composer of the Romantic era. He was the first Russian composer whose music would make a lasting impression internationally. In addition to his symphonies he wrote some of the most popular concert and theatrical music in the long form acoustic music repertoire. Despite his many popular successes, Tchaikovsky’s life was punctuated by personal crises and depression. Contributing factors included the untimely deaths of his mother and later of his close friend and colleague, the collapse of his 13 year association with a commissioning patron, and being unable to be openly queer in a deeply intolerant society. Tchaikovsky’s sudden death at the age of 53 just 9 days after the premiere of his Symphony #6 is surrounded in misinformation and controversy to this day. Various accounts include cholera and poisoning, and there is evidence to support a claim of a state sentenced “honor execution” by suicide.
This work is one that captures the imagination, hearts, and minds of listeners everywhere. There is something universal in the emotional heft of Tchaikovsky’s expressions which resonates with anyone who struggles with their human flaws, whether perceived or real.
RESOURCES
A live performance from 2013 BBC Proms
Composer Walter Murphy's masterful disco arrangement. 🔥🎉👏🏼👏🏼
HIGHLIGHTS
Tchaikovsky’s first attempt at setting Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to music was in 1870. Lackluster reviews sent him back to revise and rework it. The 2nd iteration premiered in 1872 still finding no traction. He rewrote the ending in 1880 and this final version was premiered in 1886. This is the version which is performed most often now.
Part of the problem seemed to be the feedback Tchaikovsky was getting from a major influencer of the time, Mily Balakirev. Tchaikovsky had composed a symphonic poem, Fatum, and dedicated it to Balakirev. Balakirev appreciated the dedication but did not think the composition was very good, writing after a performance in St. Petersburg "There wasn't much applause, probably because of the appalling cacophony at the end of the piece, which I don't like at all. It is not properly gestated, and seems to have been written in a very slapdash manner. The seams show, as does all your clumsy stitching. Above all, the form itself just does not work. The whole thing is completely uncoordinated.... I am writing to you with complete frankness, being fully convinced that you won't go back on your intention of dedicating Fatum to me." From there, Tchaikovsky shifted his attention to writing a similar sort of symphonic poem this time based on Romeo and Juliet, all the while dealing with Balakirev feeding him possibly unsolicited advice. That's a lot of pressure!
Even though it took Tchaikovsky 3 major rewrites to get people to stop hating on it, the Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy’s big love theme is one of those melodies you think you don’t know but you totally do. It has been used so often in popular culture to indicate over the top passion that it has become a comedic meme. In contemporary film and television it has been used in Wayne’s World, South Park, The Simpsons, A Christmas Story, Sesame Street, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, SpongeBob SquarePants, and my sister’s personal favorite The Ren & Stimpy Show.
Also very notably, composer Walter Murphy arranged a disco version of the Overture-Fantasy on his 1979 album Walter Murphy's Discosymphony, which is funky as hell and you’ll love it. 😎
A typical performance of Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy lasts about 20 minutes, and even though you could swear parts of it sound just like his famous 1812 Overture there are definitely no canons involved!
EXTRAS
Video clips from The Simpsons and A Christmas Story which use quotes from Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy. Enjoy!
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
VIOLIN CONCERTO
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Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847 ) was a German composer, conductor, and pianist in the early Romantic era. He was also brother to composer and pianist Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, and grandson of influential Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, born Moses Mendel - ergo Mendel's son.
Felix Mendelssohn composed his Violin Concerto between 1838 and 1844. It was premiered in 1845 and has since become part of the core solo repertoire for violinists. Above, you can see a 100% totally authentic not at all photoshopped portrait of Mendelssohn on vacation after the premiere, decked out in his hipster best, complete with old school film camera at the ready. 😉🤓
RESOURCES
A live performance featuring Anne Akiko Meyers at Casals Festival with the Puerto Rico Symphony, complete with very dramatic sound system glitch at 1'20". #showbusiness!
HIGHLIGHTS
The Violin Concerto is one of Felix Mendelssohn's most famous compositions. It’s in a standard 3 movement format, but was innovative for its time since each movement segues directly one to the next, the violin soloist periodically accompanies the orchestra rather than the other way around, and the solo violin part begins nearly right away without a lengthy opening statement from the orchestra as was previous established practice.
Felix Mendelssohn composed the concerto for his friend and concertmaster colleague, Ferdinand David. Notably, the two of them collaborated for six years to complete the work - Mendelssohn composing and David giving feedback and suggestions. It was the first time a major concerto was born of this type of collaboration and became a more common practice afterward as a result.
NERD ASSIGNMENTS!
Start with a Conversation:
A concerto is a type of musical form that creates dialogue and drama between a single instrument or small group of instruments, and a much larger group of instruments. What exactly is dialogue? How is dialogue made? Think about constructing a brief dialogue between two people. What can you do to alter this dialogue so that one participant becomes a whole group of people? What are some examples of this type of dialogue you can think of in your every day life? [call and response in pep rallies, a religious service, etc.]
Try an Activity!
Go ahead and dive down that internet rabbit hole! Listen to at least three different recordings of Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto for comparison and contrast. How do you find the interpretation of different soloists and orchestras affect the overall piece of music? What specific things do you notice? Do you have any favorite interpretations or moments? What draws you toward some and/or turns you away from others?
Listening for dialogue and interpretation
Listen to the performance live and again via recording if possible. Try to listen carefully for musical dialogue and dramatic interpretive elements in this composition. How did the conversation and comparison/contrast activities help you to better engage as a listener?
EXTRAS
First a 6 minute special on Arturo Marquez's 2021 violin concerto FANDANGO, commissioned by Anne Akiko Meyers, recorded by the LA Philharmonic and nominated for multiple GRAMMY awards including 2 Latin GRAMMYs.
Then, a complete recording of the last movement of the concerto as recorded by Meyers and LA Phil.
Learn more about FANDANGO, including where to stream or download it here.
JEAN SIBELIUS
SYMPHONY No. 3
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Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957 ) was a Finnish composer of the late Romantic and Modern eras. He is celebrated as Finland's greatest composer from these periods, succeeded by Kajia Saariaho in the latter part of the 1900s into the 2000s. His music is often credited with having helped Finland develop a national identity during its struggle for independence from Russia. The Finnish 100 mark note featured his image until 2002, when the euro was adopted. Since 2011, Finland has officially celebrated Sibelius's birthday of December 8, which is also known as the Day of Finnish Music.
RESOURCES
A live performance of the Symphony No. 3 led by Esa-Pekka Salonen
HIGHLIGHTS
Sibelius composed music inspired by nature, Nordic mythology, and the Finnish national epic, Kalevala.
His seven symphonies are regularly performed around the world, as are some of his most popular works Finlandia, Valse triste, the sweeping epic Violin Concerto, and The Swan of Tuonela, which we performed just this past season.
Symphony No. 3 was composed between 1904 and 1907 and was premiered in 1907 with Sibelius himself conducting.
Symphony #3 is a departure from his earlier symphonies. It's less representative of his Finnish homeland and instead built with restraint around presenting clear ideas and structures, giving it almost a Classical era characteristic even within its clearly Romantic era stylings. He especially uses this clarity of structure in the first movement.
Although it was composed during the dawn of Modernism, stylistically it hearkens back toward Romanticism and in ways evokes the music of Tchaikovsky and even late Beethoven works.
Symphony #3 is in 3 distinct movements, although technically the final movement is a scherzo and finale in one so he does still keep a sense of the usual 4 movement structure.
A typical performance of Symphony #3 lasts about 30 minutes, and even though you’re 1000% certain the first movement quotes Howard Shore’s big theme from Lord of the Rings, I promise you Jean Sibelius never saw the movie.
Enjoy listening!
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