As per request:  A special Professor Quote Smorgasbord (Note: I am not in this class - Western Music History - I just sit in on it, like some crazy undercover reporter exposing unsanitary conditions at a 2 star restaurant.  Probably not undercover by the end of the class, though) First, let’s get into the right frame of mind: Prof: There are no right answers here. Now then – On the Romantic period: "It’s kind of a reaction to what’s come before.” “Some of these character pieces had programmatic titles like… An die Nacht” “These composers were operating under the spectre of Beethoven – well, Schubert was alive in Vienna with him, but they never met, so – you know, he’s alive…” More Schubert: “I’m going to stick my neck out here and say something that many will disagree with – I think his SONGS are best.”    ! And now a whole SCENE from class: P: The Lieder composers were influenced by the Romantic literary movement – like Goethe, who was the German Shakespeare, and Schlegel and Schiller and others… (She plays the opening bars of the Erlkoenig) P: How does this sound – what’s the MOOD? Student: like a horse ride P: OHHHHH good! Student:  it.. uhm… like peril P: “PERIL”  that’s right (nods) “peril,” yeah (Now she attempts to give a dramatic rendition of the text, leaving out the verse with the rape reference) P: So the son says “Oh dad! I’m scared! Don’t you see the Erl King?” And the Dad says “uhh no its just mist, son.”  Then the Erl King comes back and he says -- … uh… I forget (checks text) (Now she plays the entire Lied with no further indications of what to listen to.) P:  Ok, now why is this Romantic? Me(raising hand):  Who wrote this text? P: Oh… uh.. good question.. It’s in your textbook.. (turns around to table, begins flipping though textbook)  I .. uh….  I guess I should have looked that up before class… hmm…. (five, ten seconds pass; finally doting freshmen in back takes pity) Freshman:  Goethe, I think Another:  Yeah, Goethe P:  Ah – yes, Goethe wrote this.  … OK!  Why is this Romantic? Student:  It’s about death Student:  And scary Night P:  Yes, and those are highly Romantic things! About a vocal range in another Schubert Lied: “It’s very difficult to be there… because… - because it’s difficult.” One last sound bite on Schubert: “Every Schubert song is like an opera” ----- “Monet water color paintings – blam – they’re there.” “Commedia dell’arte – that’s from Italy” “These were written for salon – not beauty salon.” On Chiarina from Schumann’s Carnaval: (We'll leave out the pathetic attempt on part of teacher to sight read the piece at the piano before putting on a real recording) P: So “Charina” [pronounced as it looks] is about his girlfriend Clara Wieck – what’s it say about her? Student:  it’s pretty P:  uh huh – and what’s the tempo marking? Student:  Passionato P: Yes!! Student:  So she’s passionate P: Right! Me:  I have a question  - what do you think – how much is this an attempt on Schumann’s part to be an objective portrait of Clara, and how much is it just his musical impression of his own feelings for her? P:  Good question!  I think he’s very much writing about how he feels! And later: P:  I don’t like the way your book discusses this piece – he doesn’t tell you why it’s so good.  The melody is just… - real full of juicy stuff.” On Schumann: “No other composer would do it that way” On Chopin: “Nobody has ever written for piano the way he’s written for piano.” “He has a Frenchish last name.” “He wrote these four ballades – in other words a ballad.” (She plays a recording of the ballad) P:  How does this compare to the character pieces in the Schumann? Student:  Can you really compare a ballade to a short character piece? P:  It is a character piece. Me(turn around to student):  It’s not a character piece. P:  Some historians say these short pieces in the 19th century are all character pieces. Liszt: "He was astonishingly handsome!!" “Liszt had kind of shoulder length hair” “He was a heartthrob – going to a Liszt concert was like… uhm.. I can’t think of any rock stars now… ah -- now I know this is before your time, but like going to an Elton John concert.” “This piece has some really great stuff”  - no further explanation offered Mendelssohn Day: “Has anyone heard of Midsummer Night’s Dream Before?” "Can anyone tell me the plot?” (students cringe)  “Well, these pairs of lovers try to meet on a midsummer night – which is like, you know, a Romantic time …  and so there’s this comic sort of thing going on…” P: How does this sound? Student:  Elegant P:  Ohh that’s a good word! “Elegant” – I like that word. Explanation of 19th century perception of Mendelssohn’s music: ”People’s taste changed because society changed.” ---- "On period instruments it sounds kind of different and that's cool." When one of the window shades refused to be pulled down: "These shades are like, way retarded!" "That shade wins the lame award!" On Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique: "It's Halloweenish - horrorish" "I love that bending pitch - it's so cool!" “Wagner’s Ring Cycle is like sci-fi/fantasy heaven – it’s four operas – what’s that called, not a trilogy- a quadrology?  What do you call something with four parts?” “Schoenberg felt bad because his wife was a jerk.” “Serialism – as in a series.” “tonality meaning it’s consonant.” "modernist meaning not traditionalist" Schumann song cycle ending: P: Ok, a couple questions: What happens musically here?” Me: Well, I think the falling arpeggios are somewhat reminiscent of those in the opening song, but here they are descending – perhaps suggesting closure – or tears— P: OOHHHH ‘TEARS’ – that’s GOOD! The Death and Persecution of Gustav Mahler: "Antisemitism was really a big thing in Europe" P: Mahler’s symphonies are autobiographical (Then the example: Symphony #1) P: This is about his fears about his wife’s infidelity – he’s working them out in his symphony” Me(raising hand):  Was he married at the time?? P:  YES! Me: (cussing under breath) P:  And the third movement – let’s listen a bit: (plays symphony) P:  It’s Frere Jacques in a minor key!  What’s this sound like? Student:  Like some oompa loompa dance Student:  Like Fiddler on the Roof P:  Yes, because he’s Jewish, it’s like Klezmer music -  He’s making a statement about being Jewish – he’s sad. Me (more cussing under breath) ---for the record, Mahler’s first symphony, completed in 1888 and published in 1898 was composed during his BACHELORHOOD.  His to-be wife Alma was 9 when he finished it in ’88.  They didn’t meet until much later and weren’t married until 1902. !! On Copland: P:  He plays with rhythm a lot Me: Unlike other 20th century composers On Appalachian Spring summary: "It's a ballet about life.. a guy and a girl meet.." "I forget which scholar it was, but you guys wouldn't care anyway" On Stockhausen: "I think his stuff is just awesome" On Minimalism: P:  It's a small set of material that evolves over time Me:  Oh, so like Brahms P:  There's lots of repetition Me: O-K, nevermind. Student:  Why do these [antiquated] instruments fade over time? P:  Uh..... I don't know the answer to that. And a final quote - try reading it aloud: "One of the big things that I cannot emphasize how huge this is is mass media."