I found the whole notion of Berlioz's love for Harriet Smithson being represented as a melody, most intriguing. The fact that this crush, or "idee fixe" (fixed idea), is played back at numerous different points in the symphony in order to represent his obsession with this woman is a very interesting method of expression. Furthermore, the fact that it can be repeated and manipulated into various different forms and styles, in order to portray the fact that this woman keeps intruding into and interrupting his thoughts throughout the symphony. In order to understand this symphony it is necessary to understand and be able to recognize the "idee fixe," no matter how disguised it is.
The first time it is played is in the first movement at 4:40, you can hear the lovesick theme oozing from the melody in its first phrase. The melody has lovesick yearning, with a rising shape at the beginning. Then it rises further, and further until it hopelessly collapses which creates something near a perfect image of this lovesick yearning for Smithson. It is this gradual rising in pitch of the high strings, that seems to indicate the building excitement of love or a crush, reaching and stretching further and further, until it collapses into despair each time. It is this repetition of this melody that is ever so indicative of Berlioz's obsession, crush or love (at least in the initial stages of the symphony) for Smithson. In fact, the middle of the idee fixe repeats the rhythm, while the melodic line builds higher and higher, creating this build of tension and anxiety. At the same time, the texture becomes thicker until at 5:35 the music reaches a crescendo and quietens down. It is this variation of texture and volume that creates an highly accurate representation of Berlioz's extreme passions.
I think that this first hearing of the idee fixe is made all the more notable by the fact that the melody is played much more quietly than the preceding section. It is the strings that have the melody, and as a result the texture of the music is much sparser which creates a stark contrast with the preceding mania of the orchestra, which have a greater variety of different instruments (for example percussion and woodwind, as well as the strings ).
I really liked your analysis of the idee fixe! There is something quite entrancing about this melody isn't there? It's not really that complex, but it's simplicity and maybe vulnerability (from the thin texture that you pointed out)are a perfect reflection of our artist's infatuation with his beloved. The middle part of the idee fixe especially evokes this feeling of yearning for love, as you so aptly put it. This sequence of rising notes with a repeated rhythm and distance between successive pitches builds anxiety. The listener wants to know when our artist's love will be reciprocated... and also when will this little rising sequence end? Also the melody has a certain innocence to it since it is played with very sparse accompaniment and the actual melody only by the flute and oboe. Kind of like the artist exposes his true feelings for a moment, before the texture thickens, obscuring this melody.
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