(RE: What is the significance of Hector Berlioz’s symphony “Fantastique” well known? and Why?)
As I researched Berlioz’s symphony premiere “fantastique,” three hallmarks stood out, the controversial criticism about the premiere and Idée fixe form and the unconventional 5th movement. it led me to the question, “Where all the three features come from?”, “Is it related to his personality and historical background?”
A Controversial premiere
Berlioz’s “ Fantastique” was premiered on Dec. 1830, 30 years after the French revolution (1789–1799), it was just less than 200 years ago.
The symphony was quite a scandalous piece at the premiere based on the recorded reviews and commentaries. The controversy and the composer’s personal story are still intriguing subjects to discuss: although many audiences were amazed by the piece, a reviewer wrote, “This piece portrait the Episode of Life of himself, a musical novel with all the luxuriance of emotion and incident like modern literature. Mr. Berlioz, wishing to put all his listeners to be drawn to his story and understand him, was a sort of his scenario (Doc.2. From Journal de. Comedians, May 23, 1830, in “ Kelly’s First Night”).
Another controversial issue was the story that Berlioz painted in the symphony. He engraved the bizarre tale in the symphony impressively, portraying him as a quirky composer and scandalous. It seemed that the ambitious young Hector Berlioz tried to imprint his name as a composer in the professional music world in awe. Nevertheless, it was successful his composition and Idée Fixe, his sensational musical idiom, have been well acknowledged widely since the night.
Questioned musical novelty, “Idée Fixe”
“ Idée fixe” was a fine innovative idea, yet it seemed not enough to prove its musical novelty, a reviewer from the New York Times criticized, “ Idee Fixed” is thin and insignificant to ears.” (March 18, 1899).
The commentary validates because even though his musical invention was suitable to express his feeling and his original imagination and story in his composition, it does not have much musical novelty compared to other composers. J.S. Bach and Beethoven who developed interesting tonality and chords- progressions.
The 5th. Movement, unorthodox
The carefully constructed fifth movement of the symphonie “Fantastique” has known as the most exciting and freely formed one among the other four. After a brief introduction, the last appearance of idée fixe t quickly dismissed, then the renowned Dies Irae and the Witches’ Sabbath emerge, brilliant sound and music. However, the story was provocative and created another controversial issue. Honestly, Berlioz painted the unconventional story with staggering techniques such as complicated operatic orchestration, striking dynamics. He also expanded the number of instrumental choices and embodied character/role in each instrument for implementing abstract subjects. His melodrama became musical motives and themes and fugues which were sequenced variated.
Yet his compositional skills were questioned by some critics.
I somewhat understand why, because I also remember the movement by whimsical, grotesque rhythm and flute timbre, not because of the impressive musical techniques which supposedly significant. The eloquence might be tainted by the bizarre tale as well and led it to a particular reputation.
Cohesive relation
People were impressed by how he characterized melody and rhythm and organized the instrumentation to narrate his symphonic novel “Fantastique.” Nevertheless, the symphony became a monumental classical music piece; why did Berlioz not gained the same admiration as a composer compared to Beethoven and J. S. Bach?, is it about the musical prodigy? or others reasons?
It is probably related to his trait and his music education in his teenage that started a few years back from his premiere debut. His fearless rebel personality transparently reflected and accentuated on the 5th movement.
Reflection, Unorthodox
Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie “Fantastique” was premiered in the time dynamic historical revolution was happening in social and politics. significant scientific discoveries were also thrived such as the age of steam, coal, and iron, morphine.Therefore, it is inevitable to ignore the influence of all the historical revolution and the transformation on the symphony, and the composition rippled the calm water in the music industry.
If I pretend that I attended the premiere night in the concert Hall, I would be overwhelmed and struck by the two things that Berlioz was not shy to reveal. First, unconventional form to have the fifth movement in the orchestral symphony. The second, his bizarre story in the fifth movement, celebrating his death after the opium overdose. The story was quite riotous against Catholic Church’s belief, and the level was shockingly surpassing the unorthodox. Paradoxically, it was the music institution where he conferred music education.
I was puzzled but not surprised that Berlioz was an authority antagonistic figure and had a skeptical attitude in Catholic belief. Because of the unveiled corruption of Catholics and his strict father, who was oppressing his passion for studying music and compelled him to study medicine. It explains why he composed the symphony the way it is.
The voice of Hector Berlioz resonates in me, saying like:
“Hello everyone, here is my story, my obsession. Tonight, I disguised it in sound. Enjoy!”
