First Nights - Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique and Program Music in the 19th Century from edX

Six years after the premiere of Beethoven's monumental Ninth Symphony, composer Hector Berlioz sought to make use of the symphonic genre, but on his own terms. Indeed, he wrote not only a five-movement symphony, but also a narrative program to accompany and explain the symphony.

This music course introduces students to the music and programmatic elements of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique , illuminating a new direction for nineteenth-century music. The course's grand finale is a live performance of the entire symphony by the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra.

Harvard's Thomas Forrest Kelly (Morton B. Knafel Professor of Music) guides learners through Berlioz's Symphony Fantastique, highlighting Berlioz's compostional process, his innovative orchestration, and the reception of his controversial piece of narrative instrumental music.

You will learn the basics of Romantic musical style, Berlioz's creative expansion of the standard orchestra, and the debates surrounding the idea of purely musical narrative in the 19th century.

Additional First Nights Modules: Monteverdi's L'Orfeo and the Birth of Opera Handel's Messiah and Baroque Oratorio Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony" Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique and Program Music in the 19th Century Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring: Modernism, Ballet, and Riots

What's inside

Learning objectives

Stylistic features of romantic music, including program music
Technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century

Appreciate cultural context and performance circumstances of berlioz's symphonie fantastique

Stylistic features of romantic music, including program music
Technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century
Appreciate cultural context and performance circumstances of berlioz's symphonie fantastique

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the relationship between music and narrative, using Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique as a case study

Taught by Thomas Forrest Kelly, Morton B. Knafel Professor of Music at Harvard University

Develops understanding of the stylistic features of Romantic music, as well as the technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century

Provides historical context and cultural insights into the performance circumstances of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in First Nights - Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique and Program Music in the 19th Century with these activities:

Review the basics of Romantic classical music

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Review fundamental knowledge of Romantic classical music before the start of the course to help assimilation of new information.

Browse courses on Romantic Music

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Listen to a Romantic classical music playlist on a streaming service.
Watch a documentary or online resource about the Romantic classical music era.
Read an article or blog post about the characteristics of Romantic classical music.

Create a playlist of Romantic classical music

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The course focuses on specific composers and pieces; putting together a custom playlist before class starts will help you become familiar with the broader Romantic era.

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Brainstorm a list of Romantic classical composers and pieces that interest you.
Use a streaming service or YouTube to create a playlist with your chosen pieces.
Listen to your playlist and take notes on the musical elements that you find most striking.
Share your playlist with a friend or family member and discuss your impressions of the music.

Read 'The Romantic Generation' by Charles Rosen

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Rosen's book provides a comprehensive overview of the Romantic classical music era and will help you understand the context of Berlioz's work.

View Beethoven's Piano Sonatas on Amazon

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Read the preface and introduction to get an overview of Rosen's argument.
Read the chapters on Berlioz and his contemporaries.
Take notes on the key ideas and concepts that Rosen presents.
Discuss your thoughts and impressions of the book with a friend or classmate.

Five other activities

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Take an online course on Romantic classical music

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There are various online courses available that can provide you with a structured and comprehensive introduction to Romantic classical music.

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Research different online courses on Romantic classical music and choose one that fits your needs.
Follow the course syllabus and complete the assignments and readings.
Participate in the course discussion forums and ask questions to clarify your understanding.
Take notes on the key concepts and ideas that you learn.

Form a study group with other students taking the course

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Learning with others through a study group can aid your comprehension of the course material and provide a support network.

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Reach out to other students in your class and express your interest in forming a study group.
Decide on a regular meeting time and place.
Create a study schedule and assign tasks to each member of the group.
Meet regularly to discuss the course material, work on assignments together, and quiz each other.

Attend a lecture or workshop on Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique

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This will give you the opportunity to learn more about the piece from an expert and ask questions.

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Find a lecture or workshop on Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique.
Attend the event and take notes on the key points that are discussed.
Ask questions to clarify your understanding of the piece.
Reflect on what you learned and how it has enhanced your appreciation of the Symphonie Fantastique.

Write a blog post or article about Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique

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This will help you to consolidate your knowledge of the piece and share your insights with others.

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Choose an aspect of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique that you would like to write about.
Research the topic and gather information from reliable sources.
Write a draft of your blog post or article.
Edit and revise your work.
Publish your blog post or article on a relevant platform.

Review your notes from the course and other materials

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It will help you refresh your memory of the key concepts covered in the course.

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Gather your notes, handouts, and other materials from the course.
Review the materials and take additional notes to clarify your understanding.
Identify any areas where you need further clarification.

Career center

Learners who complete First Nights - Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique and Program Music in the 19th Century will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Music Director

A Music Director leads an orchestra and oversees all aspects of its artistic and administrative operations. This course would be highly valuable to a Music Director because it would provide them with a deep understanding of the Romantic musical style and the technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Director

Music Professor

A Music Professor teaches music at a college or university. This course would be highly valuable to a Music Professor, as it would provide them with a deep understanding of the Romantic musical style and the technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century. This knowledge would be essential for teaching students about the history and development of Western music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Professor

Orchestrator

An Orchestrator adapts musical compositions for performance by an orchestra. This course may be useful to an Orchestrator, as it would help them to understand the innovative orchestration techniques used by Berlioz in his Symphonie Fantastique.

See salaries and explore the career path for Orchestrator

Composer

A Composer creates original music. This course may be useful to a Composer as it would provide them with a strong foundation in the Romantic musical style and the technical details of composition in the 19th century.

See salaries and explore the career path for Composer

Music Critic

A Music Critic writes reviews and articles about music. This course may be useful to a Music Critic as it would provide them with a deep understanding of the Romantic musical style and the technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century. This knowledge would be essential for writing informed and insightful reviews of musical performances.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Critic

Music Librarian

A Music Librarian manages a collection of music materials. This course may be useful to a Music Librarian as it would provide them with a deep understanding of the Romantic musical style and the technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century. This knowledge would be essential for organizing and cataloging music materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Librarian

Opera Singer

An Opera Singer performs in operas. This course may be useful to an Opera Singer as it would provide them with a deep understanding of the Romantic musical style and the technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century. This knowledge would be essential for performing in operas from this period.

See salaries and explore the career path for Opera Singer

Concert Pianist

A Concert Pianist performs piano music for audiences. This course may be useful to a Concert Pianist as it would provide them with a deep understanding of the Romantic musical style and the technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century. This knowledge would be essential for performing piano music from this period.

See salaries and explore the career path for Concert Pianist

Music Therapist

A Music Therapist uses music to help people improve their physical and mental health. This course may be useful to a Music Therapist as it would provide them with a deep understanding of the Romantic musical style and the technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century. This knowledge would be essential for understanding how music can be used to promote healing and well-being.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Therapist

Music Journalist

A Music Journalist writes about music for newspapers, magazines, and websites. This course may be useful to a Music Journalist as it would provide them with a deep understanding of the Romantic musical style and the technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century. This knowledge would be essential for writing informed and insightful articles about music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Journalist

Music Producer

A Music Producer oversees the recording and production of music. This course may be useful to a Music Producer as it would provide them with a deep understanding of the Romantic musical style and the technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century. This knowledge would be essential for producing recordings of music from this period.

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Music Educator

A Music Educator teaches music at the elementary, secondary, or post-secondary level. This course may be useful to a Music Educator as it would provide them with a deep understanding of the Romantic musical style and the technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century. This knowledge would be essential for teaching students about the history and development of Western music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Educator

Arts Administrator

An Arts Administrator manages the business and operations of arts organizations. This course may be useful to an Arts Administrator as it would provide them with a deep understanding of the Romantic musical style and the technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century. This knowledge would be essential for managing arts organizations that present music from this period.

See salaries and explore the career path for Arts Administrator

Music Publisher

A Music Publisher publishes and distributes musical compositions. This course may be useful to a Music Publisher as it would provide them with a deep understanding of the Romantic musical style and the technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century. This knowledge would be essential for understanding the market for music from this period.

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Instrumentalist

An Instrumentalist plays a musical instrument. This course may be useful to an Instrumentalist as it would provide them with a deep understanding of the Romantic musical style and the technical details of composition and orchestration in the 19th century. This knowledge would be essential for performing music from this period.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instrumentalist