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Romantic Programme Concert Overture ("Romeo + Juliet" -…
Romantic Programme
Concert Overture
Features
Develops from opera overtures
Stand alone symphonic work
Follows a programme
Often based on sonata form
May use a freer structure
"Midsummer Night's Dream" - Mendelssohn 1826
Orchestration
Typical early-Romantic/late-Classical orchestra
Double woodwind
Horns, trombones, ophieclide
Timpani
Strings with divisi violins
Scampering fairies theme played staccato by upper strings in upper range
Feels light + busy (4 lines)
Orchestral tutti + introduction of heavier instruments = arrival of Thesius
Contrast between mortals + fairies with heavy + light
Harmony + Tonality
First 5 bars in E major: I V IVminor I
E minor scampering fairies theme
Arrives at E major (bar 62) with Orchestral Tutti
Emphasis on tonic/dominant relationship
Arrives in B major for pairs of lovers theme + tradesmen theme
Texture
Homophonic, chordal opening
4 violin parts -> thicker, more complex textures
Homophonic fairies theme
Melody-led homophony for Thesius
More + heavier instruments = thicker
Uses Tutti for dramatic moments
"Romeo + Juliet" - Tchaikovsky 1880
Orchestration/Instrumentation
Double woodwind + piccolo + car anglais
4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, tuba
3 timpani, cymbals, bass drum, harp
Strings (separated double bass + cello)
Structure
Based on Sonata form
Stretches form to suit narrative
Long, slow introduction Bar 1-111
Harmony + Tonality
Overall in B minor
Introduction starts in F# minor (dominant)
1st subject B minor
Transition B minor -> D major
(Moves down a semitone)
2nd subject + codetta Db major
Makes use of enharmonic relationships for modulations
Eg. Shift at end of Codetta as Db->C# (bass)
Chromatic harmony used to add colour + drama
Modality related to Russian music (Nationalism)
Texture
Full Tutti saved for important climaxes
Eg. Bar 151 tutti statement of 1st subject
Imitation
Eg. Bar 90-96 horns imitate woodwind
Mostly homophonic, melody + accompaniment or
melody-led homophony
Themes
Introduction
Friar Lawrence theme played in 4-part harmony
by clarinet + bassoon
F# minor with modal colouring (hymn-like)
Low register + dark colour of instruments suggests tragedy
First subject
Feud between Montagues + Capulets
Initially in B minor
Some development in exposition
Loud + syncopated theme
Scored for most of the orchestra
Second subject
1st theme = love of Romeo + Juliet
Bar 184 played by car anglais + muted violas
Db major (flattened mediant)
2nd theme =
Bar 193 played by muted strings
Db major
Development
Uses Friar Lawrence theme
First played by horns
Heard many times, each a semitone higher