Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
Movement 2: Un Bal
INTRODUCTION
THEME
Waltz accompaniment
INSTS
Tremolo strings
2 harps/cello/DB arpeggios
BAR
1
FEATURES
A ballroom scene is established with 3/8 time
Long Crescendo
EXPOSITION (A)
1
THEME
INSTS
BAR
FEATURES
Theme 1
Violins 1
39
Theme 1 (Waltz) including the sigh motif
Link
Harp & lower strings
54
Harp & lower strings
Theme 2
Violins 2
56
Theme 2 including sigh and heartbeat motifs
2 x 5-bar phrases
2nd phrase a variation of the first phrase
Vlns 2 & vlas tremolo pizzicato/harp arpeggios
Link
Flute & Clarinet
66
Ascending staccato scale
Theme 3
All strings
68
A falling sequence of repeated notes covering the
interval of a 7th
Theme 3 in canon
Violins 1 & cello
78
Version of theme 3 consisting of a repeated turning
figure played in canon by vln 1 & cello
Vln 2 & vla play pizzicato
Theme 1 extended
Violins 1
92
Theme 1 extended in sequence. Strings, harp &
woodwind alternate on each quaver beat.
EPISODE (B)
THEME
2
BAR
INSTS
116
Tremolo strings
Idee fixe
120
Flute & Oboe
Idee fixe
128
Flute and clarinet
160
Horn - held E
FEATURES
Pppp – Presque rien
Key of F (unrelated key)
Tremolo string accompaniment
Staccato arpeggios on cellos and double basses
String accompaniment gradually introduces
snippets of theme 1 (waltz theme)
Texture becomes contrapuntal
Dominant pedal note E on Horn brings tonality
back to A major
Heartbeat motif played by wind and strings
RECAPITULATION (A)
3
THEME
BAR
INSTS
FEATURES
Theme 1
175
Vln 2/Vla/Cello
Theme 2
193
Vlns 1 & 2 and Vla
2 bar link
203
Flute/Clarinet
Theme 3
205
Woodwind
Theme 3 played by woodwind
Ascending & descending arpeggios on pizzicato
strings
Theme 3 repeated in canon
215
Vlns 2/Cello/Woodwind
Theme 3 canon between Vln 1, cello, clarinet
and flute
Ends with descending woodwind scale followed
by a silent bar
Theme 1
233
Woodwind
Vlns 2 play theme 1
Vlns 1 play ornamental motif;
Cellos & Basses pizzicato pedal note;
Woodwind repeated notes
Harp arpeggios enhance texture
Rich harp accompaniment based on arpeggios
Staccato scale
Cello –descending scale
All woodwind play theme 1
Pizz lower strings
Vlns 1 – repeated notes heartbeat motif
Syncopated horn motif
CODA
4
THEME
BAR
INSTS
FEATURES
Theme 3
257
Tutti
Woodwind plays snippets of theme 3
Theme 2
265
Tutti
Strings play snippets of heartbeat motif from
theme 2
Theme 3
286
Tutti
Vlns 1 & woodwind play turning theme from
theme 3
Idee Fixe
302
Solo Clarinet
Solo clarinet plays idée fixe accompanied by
held note on horn and one descending arpeggio
on harp
Theme 1
320
Tutti
Snippets of theme 1 are heard through a dense
chordal texture ending the movement on a triumphant note
5