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THEA Guide to the Chicago SymphonyOrchestra School ConcertsJulietFE B RUA RY 12 , 201 5the concert programChicago Symphony OrchestraEdwin Outwater conductorChicago Shakespeare Theaterguest artistsprogram to includeselections fromberliozRomeo and Juliet,Op. 17bernsteinWest Side StoryprokofievRomeo and JuliettchaikovskyRomeo and JulietRomeo andWelcome to The Beat, a guide to theChicago Symphony Orchestra SchoolConcerts, created just for you. Thisconcert, featuring the ChicagoSymphony Orchestra, will focus onmusic composed by Tchaikovsky,Prokofiev and Bernstein, all of whomwere inspired by Shakespeare’s playRomeo and Juliet. As you read thisissue of The Beat, consider theoverarching theme of choice andconsequence. Think about thecharacters in Romeo and Juliet andthe choices they made which led totheir untimely death, and what youmight call “the ultimateconsequence.” Additionally,familiarize yourself with the musicalchoices that each composer made toguide listeners through an auditoryexploration of the famous tragedy.CHOICE ANDCONSEQUENCE

S#2To help you determine what musical choices the composersmade when writing their music, please use the listening toollocated on the back of this document.Act 2Track #3 illustrates the lush sound of the full orchestra playing the love theme.The love theme from Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet conveys thecouple’s first meeting at the masquerade party as well as thescene at Juliet’s balcony. Tchaikovsky chose to demonstratethe love between these two young people by writing a melodythat ascends upward with lush strings supporting the soaringmelody. By choosing to have the melody interrupted withcrashing cymbals, Tchaikovsky announces the suicides ofRomeo and Juliet.The opening of Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet depicts FriarLaurence and is written in a chorale style to evoke the sounds youmight hear in a Catholic Church. The slow introduction, with theclarinets and bassoons playing the somber “Friar Laurence” theme,is interrupted by a foreboding melody played by the strings. Thewoodwinds join in a series of prayer-like chords accented by upwardmoving notes of the harp.Although Friar Laurence is a wise adviser to Romeo and Juliet, hisplan to bring the couple together—and to unite the Montaguesand Capulets—unravels right before his eyes.TRA#4After the battle is over, the music becomes much slower and dirge-like.What musical elements make this music sound like it is accompanyinga funeral?The consequence: The lovetheme from Tchaikovsky’sRomeo and Juliet is one of themost recognizable melodiesever written. It has been usedin numerous movies and playsto amplify the love betweentwo characters.CKListen to Track # 4. The love theme quickly transitions into abattle between the two warring families. What are the musicalelements Tchaikovsky chose to make this music sound like a battle?After the Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture premiered, Balakirevwas quick to criticize the piece. Consequently, Tchaikovsky choseto revise the piece two more times. He also pulled inspiration fromthe text of the story and would often reread the play to enhance hisideas. In 1890, it reached its final form and is now one of his mostbeloved pieces, adored by audiences around the world.23Listen to Track #2. The voices of Romeo and Juliet areheard is this section of the love theme. The English hornrepresents Romeo and the flute represents Juliet.Pyotr (Peter) Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote his Romeo andJuliet Fantasy Overture in 1869 when fellow Russiancomposer Mily Alexeievich Balakirev challenged him to write musicthat expressed the themes of the story. Tchaikovsky chose to acceptthe challenge and captured the major facets of the story and itsspirit in his composition.FRIAR a member of anycertain religious orders ofmen in the RomanCatholic Churchand #Listen to Track # 1. What were the musical choicesTchaikovsky made to depict Friar Laurence?TR ACKWrite about a time when you had to make a choiceand face a consequence as a result of that choice.#1In the city of Verona live two noble families, theMontagues and the Capulets, who have been atodds for generations. Within the walls of thiscity live two young people, Romeo, a memberof the Montague house, and Juliet, a memberof the Capulet family. Romeo and Juliet appearat a masquerade ball hosted by Lord Capulet.Romeo goes to the party hoping to seeRosaline, his first love, while Juliet attendshoping to see if she will ever fall in love withParis, the man who has been promised herhand in marriage. Romeo’s choice to attend theparty consequently results in the two youngpeople falling in love with each other.What were the consequencesof Friar Laurence’s choices?ACKAct 1TRDIRGEa lament forthe deadListen to Track # 4 again and notice how the major chords seem to give the piecea hopeful ending. Why do you think Tchaikovsky chose to end this piece ofmusic in this way? What is the consequence for the listener?3

Listen to Track #6, The Death of Tybalt. What musical choices didProkofiev use to make this music sound like playful fighting?TRAct 3ACK #6Sergei Prokofiev strongly believed that music was meant to “beautifyhuman life” and “to point the way to a radiant future.” He chose tocompose music that his audiences would appreciate andconsequently remember.Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet has become one of the greatestcompositions for the ballet stage. However, prior to its premiere, itwas rejected by two ballet companies as a consequence for being“impossible to dance to” and containing a “happy ending” thatProkofiev initially chose to write, despite how the play really ends. Bythe time the ballet premiered in 1938, Prokofiev rewrote this piece toexpress the tragic ending of the original story with music thatbeautifully captures the saga, combining the lightness of the lovestory with the violence that ensues. Prokofiev’s Romeo and Julietexpertly evokes the emotion of the drama through the musicalchoices he made for this ballet.fun fact! In January1937, Sergei Prokofiev ledthe Chicago SymphonyOrchestra in selectionsfrom his new, still-unstagedballet, Romeo and Juliet.Chicago was the firstAmerican city to hear thisnew music.Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet differs from Tchaikovsky’s FantasyOverture in that the music tells the complete story. The beginning ofthe section titled Montagues and the Capulets expresses the tensionfelt by the warring families and quietly foreshadows the impendingdeaths of Romeo and Juliet. Notice the choice Prokofiev made tocompose long, low notes for the string bass in this piece. Can youhear how each family is striding back and forth, stewing in its anger,trying to calculate what each family’s next move might be?Romeo’s best friend Mercutio is disgusted that Romeo won’tfight Tybalt, so Mercutio accepts Tybalt’s challenge instead.Romeo attempts to block the fight, but Tybalt manages to stabMercutio under Romeo’s arm and kills him. Romeo, irate over hisbest friend’s death, picks up the sword and in turn kills Tybalt.Listen to Track # 6 again. Notice how Prokofiev choseto have the string musicians hit the strings with thestick of the bow. What do you think Prokofiev isportraying by using this musical technique?Track #7, The Death of Tybalt. As you listen to the rest ofthis piece, describe how the music changes to soundlike a more serious and dangerous fight. What musicalchoices did Prokofiev make to create music thatsounds ominous?Leonard Bernstein was aworld-renowned conductorCTR A K #6and the music director of the New YorkPhilharmonic, as well as an extremelygifted composer. In the 1950s, Bernstein,Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim andJerome Robbins created a modern-dayversion of William Shakespeare’s Romeo andJuliet called West Side Story. Leonard Bernsteinwas influenced by many different musical styles:classical, pop, Latin and jazz, and wasconsequently able to pick and choose fromACK #7Reach of these styles when writing the musicTfor this production.In the Death of Tybalt, the music starts out playfully, as does this scene in the play.Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, is still angry that Romeo went to the Capulet’s masqueradeparty. Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel, but Romeo declines because he doesnot want to fight his kin by marriage.TR ACK#54Listen to Track # 5. What other musical choices did Prokofiev make toillustrate the two families at war with each other? Discuss whichmusical elements in The Montagues and the Capulets captures the feelingsof the families.Here is what Arthur Laurents recalled after hearingBernstein’s music at the very first run-through of the musical:“ It was the best theater music that’s everbeen written. He didn’t think. The musicjust poured out of him. He had thatrare quality of being able to feel eachcharacter; he was a musical dramatist.”Act 4West Side Story is set in the Upper WestSide neighborhood of New York City andportrays the rivalry between the Sharks, agang of Puerto Rican youth, and the Jets, awhite gang that likes to antagonize the Sharks.Tony (Romeo) used to lead the Jets. Maria’s(Juliet’s) brother is the leader of the Sharks. Tonyand Maria fall in love at the school dance whenthey spot each other across the crowdedgymnasium. Their love for each other threatensthe rival gangs, which causes the groups to fight.Despite his choice to call for peace, Tony endsup fighting and accidently killing Maria’s brother.This act consequently leads to Tony’s death andMaria’s hardened heart toward everyoneinvolved.Leonard Bernstein chose to start the Rumble in avery dramatic way with the timpani signaling thedanger at hand. Following the loud bang on thetimpani is a fanfare played by the brass,announcing that the fight has begun.5