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Scan 73
A Cyclopaedic Dictionary of Music, 1908
46 lines. Read by computer on 12 September 2026. Printed page 57. See the scan on archive.org.
1ERLIOZ, Hector Louis. Famous French composer; has been called the "Father of ultra-modern orchestration." B. near Grenoble, Dec. 11, 1803; d. Paris, March 9, 1869. His father sent him to Paris to study medicine, but yielding to his passion for music he forfeited his allowance and entered the Conservatoire, managing to earn a bare pittance by singing in the chorus of the Gymnase Dramatique. Original to the verge of eccentricity, he was, from the first, opposed to authority and established usage. He soon grew impatient of Reicha's instruction, and left the Cons. to join the new "romantic" school of composers. His first composition, a mass, was a ludicrous failure; but two overtures, and the Symphonie Phantastique, "Épisode de la vie d'un artiste," later, showed unmistakable power. He now gave himself up without restraint to "program music." A piece entitled "Concerts des Sylphes," 1829, was accompanied by the following printed program:—
3"Mephistopheles, to excite in Faust's soul the love of pleasure, convokes the spirits of the air, and bids them sing; after preluding on their magic instruments, they describe an enchanted land, whose happy inhabitants are intoxicated with ever-renewed voluptuous delights; little by little the charm takes effect, the voices of the sylphs die away, and Faust falls asleep to dream delicious dreams."
5In 1826 he had re-entered the Cons., and in 1830 gained the Grand Prix de Rome for his cantata Sardanapale. After spending 18 months in Rome and Naples, he returned to Paris with an overture to King Lear, and a continuation of his Symphonie Fantastique, "Lélio, ou le retour à la vie." He now added journalism to composition, and by his brilliant, incisive—and generally controversial—writings, became widely known; while the active friendship of Liszt extended his reputation throughout Europe. A successful concert tour in Germany, 1843, was followed by others through Austria, Hungary, Bohemia, and Russia. In 1853 he conducted his Benevenuto Cellini at Covent Garden, and Béatrice et Bénédict at Baden-Baden, 1862. He also visited St. Petersburg to bring out his Damnation de Faust. This peculiar but very popular oratorio marks, perhaps, the culminating point in Berlioz's artistic career. A distinguishing feature of all his works is his extremely original and masterly orchestration.
7His works—in addition to those mentioned above—include a symphony, Harold en Italie, 1834; a grand messe des morts, 1837; dramatic symphony, Roméo et Juliette, 1839; Carnaval romain; opera, Les Troyens à Carthage, 1863; sacred trilogy, l'Enfance du Christ; Te Deum for 3 choirs, orchestra, and organ; Grande symphonie funèbre et triomphale; overture, Le Corsaire; songs, &c.
9His treatise on Instrumentation (English trans., Novello), is a fine work; but it is now practically superseded by Gevaert's more modern and complete treatises.
11BERLYN. (See Berlijn.)
13BERMU'DO, Juan. Spanish writer. Published one vol. of a work on Musical Instruments, 1545.
15BERNABEI, G. E. Papal Maestro, 1672. Court Capellmeister, Munich, 1674; Wrote 3 operas, 2 books of madrigals, motets, psalms, &c.
17BERNABEI, G. A. Son of the preceding; b. Rome, 1659; d. 1732. Succeeded his father as Capellmeister, Munich, 1688. Wrote 15 operas; also masses, motets, &c.
19BERNAC'CHI, Antonio. Celebrated male soprano; b. Bologna, abt. 1690; d. 1756. Engaged by Handel, 1729, for the Italian Opera, London. He was then regarded as the finest living dramatic singer. He founded a singing school, Bologna, 1736.
21BERNARD, Émery. B. Orleans. Wrote a capital "Method of Singing" (16th cent.).
23BERNARD, Émile. B. Marseilles, 1845. Org. Notre-Dame-les-Champs, Paris. D. 1902. Works: Violin concerto; concertstück, pf. and orchestra; suites, overtures, chamber music, cantatas, &c.
25BER'NARD, Moritz. B. 1794; d. St. Petersburg, 1871. Pupil of Field. Music teacher, St. Petersburg, 1822. Wrote an opera, Olga, 1845.
27BERNARD, Paul. Pianist, composer, and writer. B. Poitiers, 1827; d. 1879.
29BERNARD, St., of Clairvaux; 1091-1153. Preached the 2nd Crusade. Author of some celebrated Latin hymns. Jesu, dulcis Memoria (Eng. trans. by E. Caswall—"Jesu, the very thought of Thee") is one of the finest hymns in existence.
31BERNARD, St., of Cluny. 12th cent. Born at Morlaix. Wrote fine Latin hymns. Dr. Neale trans. the two most famous—"Brief life is here our portion," and "Jerusalem, the golden."
33BERNAR'DI, Enrico. Milan, 1838-1900. Composed light popular dance music.
35BERNAR'DI, Steffano. Canon at Salzburg. Published motets, madrigals, &c., and a work on counterpoint (1634).
37BERNARDI'NI, Marcello (Marcello di Capua). B. Capua, abt. 1762. Wrote words and music of over 20 successful stage pieces.
39BERNASCO'NI, A. B. Marseilles, 1712; d. 1784. Court Capellmeister, Munich, 1755. Wrote sacred music and operas.
41BERNASCO'NI, P. Built the organs in Como Cathedral, San Lorenzo Church (Milan), &c. D. 1895.
43BERNELI'NUS. Wrote on "The Division of the Monochord" (Paris, 1000, A.D.).
45BERN'HARD, Christoph. Son of a poor sailor. B. Danzig, 1612; d. 1692. Succeeded
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