16
BernsteinOverture to ‘Candide’
Leonard
EXPLORE
‘Candide’ is an operetta (a light, comic opera) premiered in 1956 based on a novel by Voltaire from 1759‘Candide’ is an operetta (a light, comic opera) premiered in 1956 based on a novel by Voltaire from 1759
EXPLORE
‘Candide’ is an operetta (a light, comic opera) premiered in 1956 based on a novel by Voltaire from 1759‘Candide’ is an operetta (a light, comic opera) premiered in 1956 based on a novel by Voltaire from 1759
Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) wrote the music and whilst the show was a flop, the overture was an instant success
Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) wrote the music and whilst the show was a flop, the overture was an instant success
EXPLORE
‘Candide’ is an operetta (a light, comic opera) premiered in 1956 based on a novel by Voltaire from 1759‘Candide’ is an operetta (a light, comic opera) premiered in 1956 based on a novel by Voltaire from 1759
Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) wrote the music and whilst the show was a flop, the overture was an instant success
Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) wrote the music and whilst the show was a flop, the overture was an instant success
It is Bernstein’s most popular orchestral workIt is Bernstein’s most popular orchestral work
EXPLORE
‘Candide’ is an operetta (a light, comic opera) premiered in 1956 based on a novel by Voltaire from 1759‘Candide’ is an operetta (a light, comic opera) premiered in 1956 based on a novel by Voltaire from 1759
Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) wrote the music and whilst the show was a flop, the overture was an instant success
Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) wrote the music and whilst the show was a flop, the overture was an instant success
It is Bernstein’s most popular orchestral workIt is Bernstein’s most popular orchestral work
He was a conductor as well as a composer and conducted some of the world’s greatest orchestrasHe was a conductor as well as a composer and conducted some of the world’s greatest orchestras
Listen to Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic on this recording of the Overture to ‘Candide’: click here
EXPERIENCE
Listen to Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic on this recording of the Overture to ‘Candide’: click here
EXPERIENCE
Listen again to the beginning of the overture and you will hear two musical effects that feature prominently throughout the piece.
SYNCOPATIONIn this example you can see how Bernstein has moved the strong beat of the bar in the bass line parts to the last beat of the bar and tied the note across the bar line creating a very jazzy feel. This sets the character for the whole piece:
Bar 10, six seconds in
HEMIOLABernstein uses this rhythmic device a lot to make the music sound as if it has changed from triple time to duple time. It happens very quickly as in the example below so be careful not to miss it!
Bar 25, twenty seconds in
You can see and hear how the syncopation from the beginning continues throughout this section.
RESPOND
What is an Overture?
RESPOND
What is an Overture?
The music of four songs is used in the overture. Let’s call them A, B, C and D – listen again and write down the structure.
RESPOND
What is an Overture?
The music of four songs is used in the overture. Let’s call them A, B, C and D – listen again and write down the structure.
Which musical form is this structure?
RESPOND
What is an Overture?
The music of four songs is used in the overture. Let’s call them A, B, C and D – listen again and write down the structure.
Which musical form is this structure?
Compare sections A and B – they are opposite in character. Which two words could you use to describe their characters?
RESPOND
What is an Overture?
The music of four songs is used in the overture. Let’s call them A, B, C and D – listen again and write down the structure.
Which musical form is this structure?
Compare sections A and B – they are opposite in character. Which two words could you use to describe their characters?
Section B has two time signatures which alternate every other bar – what are they?
RESPOND
What is an Overture?
The music of four songs is used in the overture. Let’s call them A, B, C and D – listen again and write down the structure.
Which musical form is this structure?
Compare sections A and B – they are opposite in character. Which two words could you use to describe their characters?
Section B has two time signatures which alternate every other bar – what are they?
What words or phrases could you use to describe this music and the picture it paints?
