Pages 55- 61 Ellie Nelson

1. Pages 55- 61 Ellie Nelson

2. Frederic Chopin • Born: Warsaw, Poland to father (French) and mother (polish) • Grew up in the mixed company of the Warsaw intelligentsia, gentry, and aristocracy • Demanded in salons due to musical talents • Became a published composer at the age of seven • Educated in the High School of Music and was trained in theory and composition • “prodigy whose skills rivaled Mozart's” • Composed solely for the piano due to the instrument's uniformity of timbre in each octave, the decay of each note after it is struck, its sustaining ability through the pedal, and its dynamic range

3. His life • 1830, Chopin embarked on an intended tour of Europe • Heard about the Warsaw uprising and wanted to help fight, but decided to support Poland through craft • Works such as the mazurkas and polonaises express Polish nationalism • Mazurka is a lively Polish folk dance • Basic rhythmic pattern is two eighth notes followed by two quarter notes in a triple meter • Accent is shifted to the weak beats (2 and 3) of each measure • Often played in tempo rubato to allow pianists to express themselves • Along with characterisitc and counterintuitive metric accents adds an unpredictable spirit to the dance • Such compositions resulted in the development of cultural nationalism in Poland • Found love with George Sand • Died of tuberculosis in 1849

4. Mazurka in G minor, Opus 67 • Dance in three. Emphasis on the second beat created through a "hop step" on beat two • Chopin thickens the texture on the second beat of measures one through six • This and the presentation of complete harmonies gives the emphasis to beat two • Measures 17 and 19 provide clear emphasis on beat one in the right hand • ABA (ternary) form • Episode begins and ends with a strong emphasis on the pitch D • B section ends with piano and retransition starts at sotto voce • Crescendo brings the music to a mezzo forte • B section mixture of beat one and two emphasis

5. Vincent d'Indy • born in the aristocracy of the Ardeche region of France. • Mom die during childbirth so raised by grandma (environment valuing Catholicism, nationalism, and right-wing conservatism.) • A trip to Italy at the age of eighteen encouraged his compositional leanings. • Entered the National Guard in his return to France and served during the Prussian siege of Paris. • Entered Paris Conservatoire and studied organ and composition with Cesar Franck. • 1873: Attended several performances of Wagner operas in Austria and Germany. • 1875: Graduated from the Conservatoire (musical experience as a timpanist and a chorus master in Paris.) • 1885: Became joint secretary for the Society National Musicale. • 1885: Received Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris for his cantata Le chant de la cloche.

6. Symphony on a Mountain Air • (Symphoniesur un chant montagnardfrancais) • 1887 premiered to wide acclaim. • depicts sounds of nature and the mountainous terrain. • Written for piano + orchestra, (more like a traditional symphony.)

7. Antonin Dvorak • Born small Czech village • Age six – voice and violin lessons • Performance: traditional + pop pieces • 1857: Prague Organ School • Part of Orchestra of the Provisional Theater( 1st Czech theater in city) • Here played under Wagner for 3 concerts

8. 1st Compositional period • Up to 1871 • Influences by German composers (Mozart, Beethoven, Mendel, Schuman, Wagner) • “mad period”

9. New Classical Approach • Integrated elements of Slavonic folk • Supported by Johannes Brahms • By 1878 – steady commissions

10. Czech Suite • 1879 • Suite= 5 movements: Preludium, Polka, Souseaska, Romance, and Finale. • 2nd, 3rd, and 5th movements= Czech dance forms • Parallel minor key (Dmaj + Dmin) • Not dark/ sad

11. Polka • Origin trace 1830 • Bohemia origin • Duple meter (2/4)

12. Alexander Borodin • Educated by mom • Age nine make 1st polka for piano • Play flute and cello too

13. Chemistry Interest • 1850 : ST Petersburg Medical – Surgical Academy • Work under Professor Zinn who told him “ you cant hunt two hares at the same time” (music) • Graduates 1857 • Intern in military hospital meet composer Modest Mussorgsky • Interest in chemical research/ teaching • 40 papers published • 1862 assistant professor of chemistry at old school

14. His Life • Marry YehaterinaSergeyevnaProtopopora • 1862 met RussuamMily Balakirev + became part of the “The mighty Handful”/ “the Russian Five” of composers • 1869 1st symphony completed

15. Prince Igor • Started 1869, premiered 1890 • (nationalistic + traditional Russian) • Never completed due to death in 1887 from heart failure • Korsakov finished it + Alexander Glazunov

16. Polovtsian Dance from Prince Igor • Maidens entertain Prince with song/dance. • 3 dances : dance of young maidens/Gliding Dance, Wild Dance, + General Dance. • Progression tonal centers : A-F-D (each succeeding dance is in median relationship to last)

17. Scales • Intro + 1st = major + minor • 2nd = Major, minor, Dorian, Phrygian, Mixolydian, chromatic • 3rd = Major, minor, chromatic

18. Melody • Intro: Lyrical, two-measure units, falling over the course of the section • 1st : Lyrical, two-measure units, falling over the course of the section • 2nd :Rhythmic syncopated melody • 3rd : Arch-shaped melody depicting the motion of the archer’s bow and arrow