Development of the Symphony Essay - Influences/Mood

- mvt 1 influenced by 'sturm and drang' characteristics with strident nature, minor key and unnerving syncopations

- influence of courts (e.g. Haydn changing key to signal to Prince that the musicians wanted to leave) 

- mvt 2 B section influenced by 'sturm and drang' with dotted rhythms, fz, suspension, minor tonality and syncopations 

- minuet influenced by eastern european folk 

- drone/folk dance harmonies of mvt 4 and rustic stamping idea in transition 

- each mvt had a title relating to the countryside (e.g. mvt 2 'scene by the brook', mvt 4 'storm')

-significant programmatic elements in mvt 4 (e.g. trombones illistrate build to storm)

- began to react to formalities and write in alternative genres influenced by literature 

- Romantic movement began in Germany in late 18th century as a literary movement captivated by medieval romance, adventure, nature and folklore which later spread throughout Europe

- mvt 2 religious procession fading into the distance 

- trio hunting fanfare

- finale dances tarantella/saltarello

- entitled 'Episode in the Life of an Artist'

- autobiographical as he wrote of his unhappy relationship with actress Harriet Smithson

- extended Beethoven's idea in Pastorale symphony of supplying detailed descriptive programmes for each mvt 

- use of idee fixe

- expanded 5 mvt form shows influence of programme and increasing influence of dance (e.g. slow mvt and waltz reversed so slow mvt becomes central and splits up two dance mvts)

- influenced by nationalistic ideas and melodies often showed dance rhythms of bohemian folk dances and folk music 

- after working in America, Native American music and Spirituals influenced his 'From the New World' symphony

- mvt 1 influenced by 'Swing Low' 

- mvt 2 influenced by Longfellow's 'Hiawatha' later became known as 'going home' from cor anglais theme

- mvt 3 portrays native Indian wedding feast with trio having style of Czech folk song 

- many influences of Russian folk music in No.4 mvt 4 to give greaat excitation and cyclical elements when 'fate' motif from mvt 1 is recalled

- in mvt 5 of No. 2 depicts orchestral reference to a Resurrection Ode by German Poet Klopstock and often included Austrian folk song, nature references, dance rhythms, marches etc.

- tone poem no. 2 of 6 entitled 'Ma Vlast' (My Country) tells story of a Czech river from its source until it reaches the city of Prague

- 1 source of river

- 2 rivers theme with its regular 4 bars 

- 3 hunting scene

- 4 wedding feast - Czech polka dance

- 5 water nymphs 

- 6 rapids

- 7 majestic return of river melody - major, faster, louder

- popular work based on old German stroy about a peasant folk-hero and prankster called 'Till Eulenspiegel' 

- written iin very free rondo structure totally governed by storyline

- 1 'Once upon a time there lived a rascal' melody

- 2 melody associated with 'Till'

- melodies tranformed by his adventures/experiences until he is arrested and sentenced to death (idee fixe, cyclical, motivitic transformation)

- 'Once upon a time' melody returns at end as 'he lives on in the tales of his adventures'