The document discusses Hector Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, specifically the 5th movement called Songe d'une nuit du sabbat. It describes how Berlioz used an idée fixe theme to represent his love interest throughout the symphony, transforming it in each movement. In the 5th movement, it takes on a vulgar, grotesque character as part of his drug-induced dream of attending a witches' sabbath, combining elements of the idée fixe theme, Dies Irae, and round dance.

1. Hector
Berlioz
Symphonie Fantastique 5th Movement –
Songe d’une nuit du sabbat

2. EXPLORE

3. EXPLORE
French composer Hector Berlioz (1803 – 1869) wrote
Symphonie Fantastique in 1830

4. EXPLORE
French composer Hector Berlioz (1803 – 1869) wrote
Symphonie Fantastique in 1830
It is a symphony in five movements each with their own
descriptive title

5. EXPLORE
French composer Hector Berlioz (1803 – 1869) wrote
Symphonie Fantastique in 1830
It is a symphony in five movements each with their own
descriptive title
It is a perfect example of Programme Music and Berlioz
even wrote his own Programme Notes to accompany the
music

6. EXPLORE
French composer Hector Berlioz (1803 – 1869) wrote
Symphonie Fantastique in 1830
It is a symphony in five movements each with their own
descriptive title
It is a perfect example of Programme Music and Berlioz
even wrote his own Programme Notes to accompany the
music
Symphonie Fantastique is also called ‘An episode in the
life of an Artist’ and Berlioz wrote the work after falling
desperately in love with the actress, Harriet Smithson

7. EXPLORE
French composer Hector Berlioz (1803 – 1869) wrote
Symphonie Fantastique in 1830
It is a symphony in five movements each with their own
descriptive title
It is a perfect example of Programme Music and Berlioz
even wrote his own Programme Notes to accompany the
music
Symphonie Fantastique is also called ‘An episode in the
life of an Artist’ and Berlioz wrote the work after falling
desperately in love with the actress, Harriet Smithson
His love was unrequited at first which nearly sent him
mad but he persevered and they eventually married a
few years later

8. EXPLORE
In the story, the ‘Artist’ (i.e. Berlioz), has taken opium
and goes on a journey of five drug induced fantasies

9. EXPLORE
In the story, the ‘Artist’ (i.e. Berlioz), has taken opium
and goes on a journey of five drug induced fantasies
Berlioz uses one melodic theme throughout the entire
work to represent the Artist’s love interest (Harriet
Smithson)

10. EXPLORE
In the story, the ‘Artist’ (i.e. Berlioz), has taken opium
and goes on a journey of five drug induced fantasies
Berlioz uses one melodic theme throughout the entire
work to represent the Artist’s love interest (Harriet
Smithson)
The theme is transformed in each movement to
represent the character of that particular dream – this is
called an ‘idée fixe’ which literally means ‘fixed idea’

11. EXPLORE
In the story, the ‘Artist’ (i.e. Berlioz), has taken opium
and goes on a journey of five drug induced fantasies
Berlioz uses one melodic theme throughout the entire
work to represent the Artist’s love interest (Harriet
Smithson)
The theme is transformed in each movement to
represent the character of that particular dream – this is
called an ‘idée fixe’ which literally means ‘fixed idea’
The 5th movement is called Songe d’une nuit du sabbat
or Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath and Berlioz creates a
nightmarish version of his own funeral, complete with all
sorts of ghouls and ghosts

12. EXPLORE
This is what Berlioz’ own notes say:

13. EXPLORE
This is what Berlioz’ own notes say:
He sees himself at a witches’ sabbath, in the midst of a
hideous gathering of shades, sorcerers and monsters of
every kind who have come together for his funeral. Strange
sounds, groans, outbursts of laughter; distant shouts
which seem to be answered by more shouts. The beloved
melody appears once more, but has now lost its noble and
shy character; it is now no more than a vulgar dance tune,
trivial and grotesque: it is she who is coming to the
sabbath… Roar of delight at her arrival… She joins the
diabolical orgy… The funeral knell tolls, burlesque parody
of the Dies irae, the dance of the witches. The dance of
the witches combined with the Dies irae.

14. EXPERIENCE

15. EXPERIENCE
Listen to the 5th movement of Symphonie Fantastique –
now that you know a bit of the background try and
conjure up some images that the music might be
portraying

16. EXPERIENCE
Listen to the 5th movement of Symphonie Fantastique –
now that you know a bit of the background try and
conjure up some images that the music might be
portraying
Now let’s take a closer look at the idée fixe to see how
Berlioz transforms his theme:

17. Here is the original theme as first seen in the opening of the
first movement. As Berlioz himself said, it is of noble and shy
character:
Click here to listen:
This is played by solo flute and the first violin section and the
notes are very legato, creating a feeling of calm

18. And here is the theme from the 5th movement, now a ‘vulgar
dance tune, trivial and grotesque’:
Click here to listen:
This time, the melody is played on the Eb Clarinet but right up
until bar 19 the notes are exactly the same as the original

19. Let’s take a closer look at the first phrase of each of the two
themes:

20. Let’s take a closer look at the first phrase of each of the two
themes:
If we connect each note you will see that the pitches Berlioz
uses are identical:

21. Let’s take a closer look at the first phrase of each of the two
themes:
If we connect each note you will see that the pitches Berlioz
uses are identical:

22. Let’s take a closer look at the first phrase of each of the two
themes:
If we connect each note you will see that the pitches Berlioz
uses are identical:
In the second version of the theme, Berlioz has changed the
time signature, made the note lengths shorter and added
acciaccaturas and trills

23. EXPERIENCE
Watch the short film where Duncan
Swindells, Principal Bass Clarinet in the
RSNO, talks about the clarinet section,
and how Berlioz uses the instrument to
create different characters and moods in
this piece

24. RESPOND

25. RESPOND
What period of music is this piece from ?

26. RESPOND
What period of music is this piece from ?
The 5th movement can easily be divided up into three
sections: the opening section with the idée fixe theme,
the Dies Irae which literally means Day of Wrath and the
Ronde du Sabbat or Round Dance

27. RESPOND
What period of music is this piece from ?
The 5th movement can easily be divided up into three
sections: the opening section with the idée fixe theme,
the Dies Irae which literally means Day of Wrath and the
Ronde du Sabbat or Round Dance
Click here to listen to the opening of the Dies Irae:

28. RESPOND
What period of music is this piece from ?
The 5th movement can easily be divided up into three
sections: the opening section with the idée fixe theme,
the Dies Irae which literally means Day of Wrath and the
Ronde du Sabbat or Round Dance
Click here to listen to the opening of the Dies Irae:
The theme, introduced by the bassoons, is made up of
continuous dotted minims. The horns and trombones
then repeat the theme but it has been altered. How has
it changed?

29. RESPOND
What period of music is this piece from ?
The 5th movement can easily be divided up into three
sections: the opening section with the idée fixe theme,
the Dies Irae which literally means Day of Wrath and the
Ronde du Sabbat or Round Dance
Click here to listen to the opening of the Dies Irae:
The theme, introduced by the bassoons, is made up of
continuous dotted minims. The horns and trombones
then repeat the theme but it has been altered. How has
it changed?
The notes are the same but something has happened to
the rhythm. What is the musical term for this?

30. RESPOND
The Round Dance takes its name from the musical form
that it is written in. In music, what is a round? Can you
think of another name for a more complicated and
involved round?

31. RESPOND
The Round Dance takes its name from the musical form
that it is written in. In music, what is a round? Can you
think of another name for a more complicated and
involved round?
Click here to listen to the end of the fugue:

32. RESPOND
The Round Dance takes its name from the musical form
that it is written in. In music, what is a round? Can you
think of another name for a more complicated and
involved round?
Click here to listen to the end of the fugue:
What is happening here? What two themes have been
combined?

33. RESPOND
The Round Dance takes its name from the musical form
that it is written in. In music, what is a round? Can you
think of another name for a more complicated and
involved round?
Click here to listen to the end of the fugue:
What is happening here? What two themes have been
combined?
What instrument does Berlioz use that makes it really
obvious that this music is about a funeral?

34. RESPOND
The Round Dance takes its name from the musical form
that it is written in. In music, what is a round? Can you
think of another name for a more complicated and
involved round?
Click here to listen to the end of the fugue:
What is happening here? What two themes have been
combined?
What instrument does Berlioz use that makes it really
obvious that this music is about a funeral?
Create your own 8 bar ‘idée fixe’ keeping the notes and
rhythm very simple. Now, like Berlioz, change things
like the time signature, rhythms, instruments and
phrasing and see what happens