MUSIC 1010

Semester

Presentation

• Born May 22, 1813 in Leipzig, Germany

WILHELM RICHARD WAGNER

• German composer, conductor, and theatre director

WAGNER

• Unique in the fact that not only did he write the music for his stage works, he also wrote the text for them

• Controversial figure during his lifetime

• The 9th child born in his family

GROWING UP

• His father died 6 months after his birth

• As a young boy, he did now show any natural ability in music

• Wagner saw Beethoven’s 7th and 9th symphony in 1828

BEETHOVEN

• Ludwig von Beethoven, also a German composer, became a major inspiration for Wagner

• Gave Wagner composition lessons in 1831

• Was so impressed by Wagner’s music ability that he refused payment for the lessons.

THEODORE WEINLIG

• Wagner’s first complete opera

DIE FEEN (THE FAIRIES)

• This piece went unproduced until half a century later in 1883, shortly after Wagner’s death

L I S T E N I N G G U I D EWAG N E R ’ S D I E F E E N : A V I S U A L

PA S T I C C I O ( AC T 1 , PA RT 1 O F 8 )0:00 This song starts out adagio with a mellow melody played by the woodwinds and strings which ascends and moves to a short flute solo. A trumpet picks up the solo with accompaniment by the strings. Woodwinds then take over the melody with brass accompaniment.1:10 The tempo then picks up and gradually increases in volume and is repeated. A combination of brass, strings, and woodwinds take over in an ascending and then descending melody.1:50 Soprano and alto vocals enter with accompaniment by woodwinds which continues through the short vocal breaks. Throughout this section, both the vocals and accompaniment ascend and descend simultaneously.3:17 There is a bridge with a trumpet taking over the melody with string accompaniment. This is repeated twice.3:55 The song enters with the vocals fading out followed shortly by instrument fade out.

• Married Wagner in 1834

CHRISTINE WILHELMINE “MINNA” PLANER

• She was one of the leading ladies in his failed opera Das Liebesverbot

• Divorced in 1862

• Because of Wagner’s anti-Semitism, he became the favorite of Adolf Hitler’s composers in the 20th century

ADOLF HITLER

• Hitler often had Wagner’s music performed at party rallies and functions

• Referred to as The Ring Cycle

THE RING OF THE NIBELUNG

• A cycle of four epic operas

• World premier August 13, 1876

L I S T E N I N G G U I D ER I C H A R D WAG N E R- OV E RT U R E S - 9 . D E R R I N G D E S N I B E LU N G E N - 3 . S I E G F R I E D

0:00 This piece begins with a low and fast drum beat entrance for a few bars before the brass then enters with a low and dark melody.0:50 Low brass picks up the grave melody which is played forte.1:32 A low fast drum beat takes over, slows, and ends.Low woodwinds start with a continued trill along with low drum beats, the volume and drum beats then increase dramatically.2:37 Low brass comes in with the dark melody with a crescendo volume.3:30 There are two forte trill notes from the orchestra.3:39 A clarinet solo enters with a low accompaniment, both crescendo then dramatically lowers.4:15 There is a short trumpet solo then a build up of the tempo and melody by the strings.

• Wagner met her in 1852

MATHILDE WESENDONCK

• Was one of the sources of Wagner’s inspiration to write Tristan and Isolde

• Was a fan of Wagner’s work

KING LUDWIG I I

• In 1862, he discharged Wagner’s debts and financially supported him

• Funded the construction of Wagner’s opera house

• Composed between 1857 and 1859

TRISTAN AND ISOLDE

• Premiered on June 10, 1865 in Munich, Germany

• Was a reflection of Wagner’s personal life

http://youtu.be/j8enypX74hU

L I S T E N I N G G U I D EWAG N E R: I S O L D E S L I E B E S T O D / RATT L E :

B E R L I N E R P H I L H A R M O N I K E R

0:00 The piece begins with consonance, a gentle flowing melody by the winds, strings, and the distinct sound of a harp. The oboe and flute have a short solo accompanied by the strings.0:55 The brass then enters with a melody in which the volume rises and falls dramatically three times with a presto drum roll throughout.1:22 Woodwinds, strings, and brass pick up with a peaceful melody which then increases in volume and suspense, then ends with a drum roll.2:18 The full orchestra enters playing loudly with strings and woodwinds taking the melody accompanied by steady and fast drum beats.2:44 Short flute and oboe solo, the brass comes in with one forte note, and the song fades out with the harp.

• Married Wagner on August 25, 1870

COSIMA VAN BULOW WAGNER

• Had 3 children with Wagner

• First performed Christmas morning December 25, 1870

SIEGFRIED IDYLL

• Was a birthday present to second wife Cosima

• The foundation was laid for the construction on May 22, 1872

BAYREUTH FESTSPIELHAUS

• Designed by Wagner

• Opened in 1876

• The venue for the annual Bayreuth Festival

• The last completed opera by Wagner

PARSIFAL

• Premiered on July 26, 1882 in the Festspielhaus

• The final resting place of Richard Wagner

VILLA WAHNFRIED

• Wagner died of a heart attack while vacationing in Venice, Italy on February 13, 1883

RICHARD WAGNER1813-1883

WORKS CITED

A+E Networks. (2013). People. Retrieved October 5, 2013,

from Biography.com: http://

www.biography.com/people/richard-wagner-9521202

Shelokhonov, S. (n.d.). Retrieved October 5, 2013, from

IMDb.com:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003471/bio?ref_=

nm_ov_bio_sm

THE GROVE CONCISE DICTIONARY OF MUSIC. (n.d.).

Education. Retrieved October 5, 2013, from Pbs.org: http://

www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/education/wagner.html