Berlioz to Bellamy Innovations in Space and Time

Had Berlioz had the stomach for the gory bits of a medical inclusion of newly invented, improved and unusual training we may never have heard of him. Following his instruments father’s preference he enrolled in medical school, but a Berlioz loved the sound of large choruses. As a guest jump out of a window to escape a dissection class soon led conductor he performed several concerts with over 1000 to a jump into music. Largely self-trained, he was a musicians. In 1851 he was in , employed as a judge composer, a conductor, a music writer and critic. His for the Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace and had the compositions were highly original, and he became one of opportunity to hear the singing of the Charity Children in St the leading lights of the Romantic era, advancing the Paul’s Cathedral. He was very impressed by the powerful cause of French music at a time when German music was effect of 6,000 children’s voices singing in unison. As a dominant. result he revised the “Te Deum” the following year to add a The “Te Deum” was one of his major third choir of children’s voices, works and was composed in 1848–49. No contributing to the opening and closing money was promised in advance so he choruses. For the 1855 performance had to work hard to find a suitable Berlioz organised a choir of 600 orphan occasion for a first performance. This children, together with a double choir of took place in 1855, and was conducted 150 singers and a hundred and fifty- by Berlioz; the occasion was the opening strong . of the new organ in the church of Saint- The epic and emotional qualities of his Eustache in Paris. Sadly it was to be the music have appealed to many film only complete performance in his makers in a variety of genres: you will lifetime. find him in “Star Trek: First Contact” In his memoirs Berlioz says, “The (1996), Mike Newell’s romantic comedy prevailing characteristics of my music “Mona Lisa Smile” (2003) and Stanley

are passionate expression, intense ardor, Hector Berlioz Kubrick’s horror classic “The Shining” rhythmical animation and unexpected (1980). turns,” He was a pioneer of orchestration; During his time at the Great Exhibition his innovations shine through everywhere Berlioz judged hundreds of musical in the “Te Deum”. He deployed vast instruments from many countries. He instrumental and vocal forces like armies often found it tiresome; imagine a day in order to make the most of a vast listening to a host of out of tune musical church acoustic; he envisaged the boxes and 24 different types of orchestra sited centrally, the organ at the accordion. But he was particularly www.hertfordshirechorus.org.uk far end (like God and the Pope) separate impressed by the Erard and the choirs at the ends of the transepts – the extensive range of brass instruments result was astounding, resounding sound! made by Adolphe Sax, a Belgium His forte was drama. You can hear this in instrument maker working in Paris. his: Berlioz described his newly invented Matt Bellamy saxophone as “the most beautiful low massive instrumental and choral voice known to this day”. Berlioz was in awe of the outbursts craftsmanship he saw and was committed to using new exploitation of the contrast between colossal and instruments in his compositions. intimate rich sounds Berlioz’ music was passionate, intense and turbulent. These sudden changes of tempi and mood qualities sum up Romanticism, which replaced the irregular rhythm patterns and dynamic effects simplicity, calm, and conformity of Classicism. In France his ideas were often seen as far too inventive, even eccentric, use of the trombones’ pedal-tone growl and were ridiculed; but many composers, including unexpected combinations of instruments, e.g. in Wagner, Liszt, Strauss, Stravinsky and Debussy would take “Grande Messe des Morts” the otherworldly effect of inspiration from his orchestral innovations. flutes and trombones separated by many octaves, to Not long before his death Berlioz said that if he could live represent the immensity of the distance from heaven to to be 140 his musical life would become “decidedly hell hertfordshire chorus page 1 of 3 hertfordshire chorus www.hertfordshirechorus.org.uk fidelity) inthe1950’s and60’s there wasa “hi-fi”(high of Withthe arrival diversified. in technology, music genres expanded and the strongpost-wareconomyandboom decades, inspired byanoptimismbasedon Inthenext two jazzmusic. dimensions of Coltrane, MilesDavieswouldstretch the Hancock andtenorsaxophonist John musicians includingthepianistHerbie band. Working talented withahostof he would have writtenabout MilesDavis’ andsaxophone? You wonder what Remember Berlioz’ the excitementover 1943: happenedAll thesemusical in events year, World despitetheravages War of II. 140 in1943.Hepicked avibrantmusical Born in1803,Berlioz would have been forwardinteresting”. intime….. Fast Quest Miles Davis released The soundtrackto“ no 5inDmajor Vaughan “ Williams’ Ralph Sinatra Frank Walton William “ Dmitri Shostakovich Sonata inDMajor” Prokofiev Sergei for Tenor, andStrings Horn to StCecilia”composedhis“ the “A Carols”and“Hymn Ceremony of Benjamin Britten Orchestra Béla Bartók time YorkNew Philharmonic Leonard Bernstein Hall Carnegie York’s timeatNew for thefirst Duke Ellington Berlin Shelton Horne Deanne Durbin Symphony No. 8 ” –aballet , , Benny Goodman Judy Garland had hitsongs ” began hismusical career began wrotehis“ , . Fats Waller Fats ’s orchestra performed , composed“ ” haditspremiere wrotehis“Flute Bing Crosby ” , having justfinished conductedthe Oklahoma finishedhis and Concerto for Concerto , for thefirst Glen Miller Anne Symphony , Irving The Serenade ” , ” was Lena ,

Benjamin Britten Frank Sinatra Leonard Bernstein Duke Ellington Miles Davis vocals and studio effects. TheTornadosvocals andstudioeffects. hada electronic instruments, andincludedwordless developed sounds generated bynewly- Pop groups oftenemployed exoticandunusual ourworld. theexplorers beyond emotions of spaceandthe thevastnessof impression of the waymusicians an aimedtoconvey knows,BerliozWho mightw jazz andpopmusicians. inspirationfor classical, provided arichseamof withspaceexploration,which fascination radio signalswere produced byrunning apen thatthesoundsintendedtosymbolize story recording More itbackonEarth. probableisthe signal uptotheTelstar satellite andre- sounds ontherecordcamefromsending saidatthetimethatin 1962.Itwas theweird transmissionsfromtheTelstaroverseas satellite inspired tocomposethepieceafterfirst .” TheirproducerJoe Meekhadbeen hit here andintheU.S. with“TheThemefrom son Matthew (songwriter,son Matthew vocalist, pianist, Tornadoes. years later Forty-four in2006,his The Bellamywastherhythmguitaristof George story. “Telstar”, opening inJune, for more onthis film atvariousspeeds.Seethenew reverse made tosoundexoticbyplaying thetapein aflushingtoilet,withtherecordings actually therecord was of atthestart “rocket blastoff” anashtray,around the rimof andthat the keyboards andguitarplayerkeyboards withMuse)wrote a tributetohim;Musereleased “Knightsof Cydonia” ontheir“BlackHolesand Revelations” thebig album.Muselove acoustic; they were the first bandtosellout werethefirst acoustic; they Small jumpforwardthistime:totheBarbican builtWembley Stadium in2007. the newly Hall, late2008.Hertfordshire Chorus areon stage, MusicalDirector David Temple sitsinthe audience alongside Matthew Bellamy(yes, audience alongsideMatthew really). In the interval, commonmusical really). Intheinterval, “decidingly interesting”.“decidingly listening behindthem,andthinksitsall orchestral. part large HectorBerlioz sits classical apparently,Resistance”; distinctly a abouttalks hisupandcomingalbum“The been performedhas ever there. Matthew timeit thefirst “Te Deum”intheSage–it’s isinvitedtoattendBerlioz’Berlioz! Matthew influences andinspirations are discussed. ell have appreciated page 2of3 hertfordshire chorus www.hertfordshirechorus.org.uk This sheet was compiled to support a performance of Berlioz’ ‘Te Deum’ by Hertfordshire Chorus at The Sage Gateshead on 11 July 2009. footage. high emotionalintensity. your tomatch filmsandselectmovements/tracks favourite themtothe Chooseoneof Berlioz’ musicaregiftsfor andMuse’s filmmaker On Film and spaceexploration landmarks. Make with Debussy (whowasinspired atimelinethatbegins byBerlioz) works andendswithMuse. Plotcomposers, Space Music lights Traffic Manned glider Air brakes Tin can Dynamite Train sleepingcar Gyroscope Safety pin Pasteurisation Antiseptics machine Sewing Mercerized cotton Platform scales Rubber tyres Stapler Postage stamp machine Fax code Morse Calculator Internal combustionengine Propeller Photograph Plastic Dishwasher Refrigerator then that westillusetoday. Canyou workoutwhichare stillknownby, orassociatedwiththeirinventor’s name? productsandtoolswereA vastnumber inventedduringBer of Inventions music whichshowclassicBerlioz andBerlioz, Bellamy’s Bellamy Matthew ideas. Googling andfindsamplesof Try Don’t BelievetheLink? Searching questions... s lookingtoenhanceepiclandscape establishingshotsormomentsof lioz’ working life. Here’s a selection of thingsinvented lioz’ working life.Here’s aselectionof