One Monster Page by Berlioz

Excerpt from Orchestration Analysis Series Part E of Movt. 5 covering Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, to be released 19 May 2024.
Performance by Orchestra of the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar, conducted by Nicolás Pasquet
• Hector Berlioz - Symph...
San Francisco Symphony, Keeping Score: Hector Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique w/Tilson Thomas
• Keeping Score | Hector...
Free Berlioz scores in IMSLP.org, link to Symphonie Fantastique (including recording by DuPage SO)
imslp.org/wiki/Category:Berli...
Period Performance, Orch. of the Age of Enlightenment, Norrington cond.
• Berlioz: Symphonie fan...
For the most up-to-date orchestration analysis and additional resources and perspectives, please join me on Patreon.
/ orchestrationonline
Visit the official Orchestration Online website and subscribe to our newsletter. orchestrationonline.com
Join the orchestration online community by subscribing to this channel, checking in on Twitter @OrchestrationOL, and being part of the conversation on Facebook. / 278568792265515

[@danb2622]

Thanks, Thomas! I love your channel. You always deliver such instructive content.

[@OrchestrationOnline]

Thanks a bunch, Dan! Tons more to come later this month.

[@laurenlofton9039]

You know you play too much Guess the Score when you see the thumbnail and know what part it is.

[@clifford2222]

It's incredible to listen to this excerpt after the analysis, it's like my ears have gained superpowers 😅

[@laurajhball]

YAY, MONSTERS!

[@OrchestrationOnline]

RAWRRGHHH!! 👹

[@enriquesanchez2001]

OMG ♥♥♥♥♥♥ Merci beaucoup, notre grand seigneur!

[@OrchestrationOnline]

De rien, mon ami!

[@filmscorevideos]

These analyses are probably the best music content on KZbin! :) I'd like to request that you consider doing an episode on (at least a section of) Turangalila Symphonie by Messiaen, as that piece has some incredible orchestration but is quite difficult to digest.

[@OrchestrationOnline]

That's incredibly kind of you to say! Your channel has great content as well. Messiaen? Someday, perhaps. I'll add it to my list of suggestions, with thanks.

[@cyprianbeecroft569]

I love Berlioz! It would be great if you could at some point analyse his requiem (my favourite piece)!

[@OrchestrationOnline]

It might be a while before I take another look at Berlioz for the channel, but that's a great suggestion. Thanks so much!

[@BariSaxGuy]

great analysis as always!

[@matthewlewiscomposer]

I noticed the oboe here harmonizes under the flute melody. I’ve been told in some situations the oboes sound can be too contrasting and best serves as playing the melodies down an octave. In what situations does it work for oboe to harmonize without accenting a different melody? Is it a range or dynamic thing?

[@OrchestrationOnline]

That rule would be news to Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Debussy, and any number of other composers who positioned their oboes in close harmonies under oboes. So long as the flute is in its strongest register, as it is here, there will be no problem in balanced colour or strength. It's when flutes are in their middle and low register that pains must be taken not to overwhelm it. See my tip, "Stop Burying Your Flutes!" for more on that.

[@jonathanp935]

Sad to see the Fantastique lectures end, but I known there will be another analysis series coming.

[@OrchestrationOnline]

Yup. Next piece is also incredible - and I'll be previewing some content in a week or two - but I'll be asking my subs to go up to 77K before I release the first chapter. Shouldn't take long, as they're increasing nicely on their own without me asking anyway.

[@jonathanp935]

@@OrchestrationOnline I know Daphnis isn't until 100k, so i hope there is at least 3 more analysis series before that, so that the 10th series, like the 1st, is a ballet score.

[@alonsoordonez6407]

Was he a guitar player?

[@OrchestrationOnline]

Apparently it was the only instrument with which he had any real facility - according to some sources.