"Reverie--Passion!" Doesn't this title for the first movement of Berlioz's "Symphony Fantastique" remind you of one of those overly passionate steamy love scenes from black and white film from the 50s? In fact it reminds me of one specific clip from the film Phaedra I found on youtube with a steamy scene between Anthony Perkins and Melina Mercouri. It is ironic how well this story line fits with Berlioz' narrative. A man lost in reverie, perhaps of an old flame, is brought back to reality by his passionate current lover.
This clip, similarly to the first movement of Symphonie Fantastique narrates a change in the protagonist's frame of mind. We start the piece (and the clip) with the composer in a pensive mood reflecting on pleasant memories (perhaps with an old lover). The music also reflects this sweet "Reverie" with smooth, long phrases by the string instruments and a slow tempo.
This sweet "Reverie," however, is abruptly cut off by the presence of a new love interest. This love differs greatly from the sweet, gentle souvenirs of an innocent love. It is raw and wildly passionate. The music suddenly furiously increases in tempo, then slows down only to rise and wane in a crescendo, only to increase again. New woodwind instruments as well as lower strings are brought in and the chords played by the strings are more dissonant. This new unpredictable and passionate music defines the rest of the movement and ends in an abrupt culmination of the building tension and feverish expectation of the later part of the piece.
It is surprising how well the first movement fits this video clip. I guess passionate love is not reserved only for romanticism.
I think it's absolutely incredible how music can paint such a vivid and distinct picture in our minds, and from your post, it seems like you agree. I definitely got the same impression from the first movement as you, and in particular, when the tempo begins to pick up at around 1:30 or so, you can almost feel the musician's heart beating out of his chest with excitement and infatuation. At about minute 2, the tempo slows down again, and to me, this represented the musician's absorption and settling into the beauty and grandeur that comprises his love; while the quick tempo revealed his initial love-at-first-sight emotional state, the slower tempo reveals his longing and enduring desire to have her.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was first listening to symphonie fantastique, I thought the same thing and I love that you found this clip. This definitely proves that music can really represent emotion and feelings.
ReplyDeleteBut what's interesting is how this will coincide with the argument that music is absolute, especially since Berlioz changed the program so many times. I think this means that music is how you interpret it. For some, symphonie fantastique is a classic love story, and for others, it's agonizing chick-flick.
I really like your analysis of the contrast between the pensive reverie and the loud, energetic idée fixe. It's amazing how Berlioz uses the change in tempo and volume of the music to create a sense that the man was in a daze and then woken up at the sight of his lover. Just like you said, the music is unpredictable, passionate and a little furious which makes us wonder what is going to happen next.
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