Hector Berlioz ~ Rob Roy Overture

Hector Berlioz- Rob Roy Overture 1831 Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) was an early French Romantic-era composer. He used huge orchestras for many of his works, giving way to the term 'Grandiose Romantic', a style which influenced later Romantic composers such as Richard Strauss, Wagner and Mahler. His most popular work was probably 'Symphonie Fantastique', and even many non-Classical music fans would be familiar with the 4th movement of this symphony- 'March to the Scaffold'. His 'best' works are, of course, a matter of opinion, but the melodious "Harold in Italy" symphony would be a good place to start. For those who enjoy marching/funeral style pieces, "Symphonie Funebre and Triomphale" is very impressive. Some of his more popular overtures are "King Lear", Le Corsaire", Beatrice and Benedict" and "Le Carnavale Romain" Not very well known, and even disliked by Berlioz himself, is the 'Rob Roy Overture', which no one has even bothered to post on youtube yet. Berlioz composed this in 1831, performed it for the first time in 1833, "was not happy with it and 'withdrew' it after the premiere." The work was inspired by Sir Walter Scott's novel, "Rob Roy". Tremsfan became familiar with Berlioz in an odd way- in a rock and roll record catalogue from the west coast in the early 1970's, he read a review for the Pink Floyd album, "Atom Heart Mother", where the Suite from that album was compared to Berlioz. Tremsfan still does not see the connection, but we would be interested if anyone else does ! The "Rob Roy Overture" is not even mentioned on Berlioz' wikipedia page, but if you google the work you will come across a few sentences for each of his overtures. For more information on this overture, please go to www.hberlioz.com/Scores/srobroy.htm. For ALL information on Berlioz, go to the website www.hberlioz.com . For the Berlioz Facebook page, search for 'The Hector Berlioz Facebook'. Our clip of "Rob Roy" is conducted by Sir Alexander GIbson with the Scottish National Orchestra.

Text by Tremsfan

Category:

Music

Tags:

• rob
• roy
• hector
• berlioz

[Craterbun]

The Bruch fantasy uses the same theme, is it an original scottish tune?

[doubleotwentyone]

@Craterbun I think it's a variation of "Loch Lomond" which is as far as I know a traditional Scottish song.

[benlaoigh]

@doubleotwentyone Some attractive images to accompany the Berlioz but why include the picture of Haystacks (Lake District)?

[doubleotwentyone]

@benlaoigh I just downloaded what I thought were views of the Scottish highlands...a little artistic license maybe?

[Mackeson3]

"But the melodious "Harold in Italy" symphony would be a good place to start. " The 'Harold' theme itself in fact was first used by Berlioz in this overture! 4:30

[Huddiethegreat]

I thought I was familiar with everything he did. Apparently not.

[Craterbun]

@benlaoigh It is a beautiful tune, Thank you for the knowledge and the intresting history around it.

[benlaoigh]

@Craterbun

[benlaoigh]

The tune is not "Loch Lomond". It is the tune of the song "Scots wha hae". Robert Burns wrote the words of what was supposedly the rallying cry of Robert the Bruce to the Scots before the Battle of Bannckburn (1314), a pivotal moment in Scottish history. The melody is however much older. Burns' poem was written shortly before the time of Berlioz.

[ElvMorgan]

Great.

[Craterbun]

@ doubletwentyone Thank you for your answer. The name seems familiar. The Scottish Fantasy-final reminds me a little of some of the norwegian composer Ole Bull`s work