L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1 - Farandole and Intermezzo
Georges Bizet
Georges Bizet (1838 – 1875) was a 19th Century French composer, mainly of operas. In a career cut short by his early death, he achieved few successes before his final work, Carmen, became one of the most popular and frequently performed works in the entire opera repertory. One of Bizet's late assignments came from Carvalho, now managing Paris's Vaudeville theatre, who wanted incidental music for Alphonse Daudet's play L'Arlésienne. As the play is set in Province, Bizet uses the folk music of that area in his music. When it opened the music was dismissed by critics as too complex for popular taste. However, encouraged by Reyer and Massenet, Bizet fashioned a four-movement suite from the music. A suite is a collection of contrasting dance movements. 2 of the movements, "Farandole" and "intermezzo" make up the final set work on your course.19th Century composers belong to the Romantic era, a period of large orchestras, and very dramatic, expressive music.
2nd Movement - Intermezzo
An intermezzo is a piece of music played between two acts of a play. This Intermezzo is in 3 sections, ABA or Ternary form. The metre is 4, (4/4) and the tonality is Eb major although technically it begins in C minor.
The opening A section features 4, 4-bar "question and answer" phrases. The "question" features strings and woodwind in octaves. The "answer" features woodwind and horns. Tempo is Andante moderato ma con moto (At a walking pace, moderately, but with movement).
There is a change of tempo, Allegretto moderato, at the start of the B section, which features a legato melody played by Saxophone, an instrument not usually found in the orchestra, and French Horn. Listen to the strings under this melody as they play broken chord accompaniment first Pizzicato (plucked) and then Arco (bowed). After a big crescendo (gradually louder) and Allargando,(broadening out) the B section comes to a close fff.
Then the quieter A section returns before a big Tutti (full orchestra) finish, ff and molto rit. ( gradually slowing down a lot) to finish. The 2nd A section is not the exact same as the 1st A section. There are little pieces of the "B" melody mixed in there also.
The opening A section features 4, 4-bar "question and answer" phrases. The "question" features strings and woodwind in octaves. The "answer" features woodwind and horns. Tempo is Andante moderato ma con moto (At a walking pace, moderately, but with movement).
There is a change of tempo, Allegretto moderato, at the start of the B section, which features a legato melody played by Saxophone, an instrument not usually found in the orchestra, and French Horn. Listen to the strings under this melody as they play broken chord accompaniment first Pizzicato (plucked) and then Arco (bowed). After a big crescendo (gradually louder) and Allargando,(broadening out) the B section comes to a close fff.
Then the quieter A section returns before a big Tutti (full orchestra) finish, ff and molto rit. ( gradually slowing down a lot) to finish. The 2nd A section is not the exact same as the 1st A section. There are little pieces of the "B" melody mixed in there also.
4th Movement - Farandole
A Farandole is a lively dance in duple time (2 beats in each bar) from Provence. This movement uses two melodies or tunes. The A section begins with the March in D minor played by the whole orchestra (Tutti). Its in 4/4 and at a march tempo (tempo di marcia). This is repeated in canon (imitation) where lower strings and woowind imitate the upper strings, oboe and clarinet.
Section B starts with a change of tempo - Allegro vivo e deciso (lively fast and decisive).This tune is a dance from Provence and is introduced by a drum (tambourin). First played by flute, then more instruments added. finally it is played by the full orchestra. The articulation is staccato (detached)
The next section features both tunes alternating before the final section consists of both tunes together. The march has to altered from minor to major to let it coincide with the dance.
Section B starts with a change of tempo - Allegro vivo e deciso (lively fast and decisive).This tune is a dance from Provence and is introduced by a drum (tambourin). First played by flute, then more instruments added. finally it is played by the full orchestra. The articulation is staccato (detached)
The next section features both tunes alternating before the final section consists of both tunes together. The march has to altered from minor to major to let it coincide with the dance.