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29-401: In the oldest usage, which survives in informal form to the present day, a serenade is a musical greeting performed for a lover, friend, person of rank or other person to be honored. The classic usage would be from a lover to his lady love through a window. It was considered an evening piece, one to be performed on a quiet and pleasant evening, as opposed to an aubade , which would be performed in

58-677: A Romantic style include Ludwig van Beethoven , Hector Berlioz , Franz Schubert , Richard Strauss , Max Reger , Ethel Smyth , Wilhelm Stenhammar and Jean Sibelius (see Two Serenades (Sibelius) ). Some examples of serenades in the 20th century include the Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings by Benjamin Britten , the Serenade in A for piano by Stravinsky , the Serenade for baritone and septet , Op. 24 by Arnold Schoenberg , and

87-647: A context that referred specifically to a past time, such as arias in an opera (there is a famous example in Mozart 's Don Giovanni ). Carl Maria von Weber composed his serenade for voice and guitar, "Horch'! Leise horch', Geliebte!" (1809). In the Baroque era, a serenata —as the form was called since it occurred most frequently in Italy and Vienna—was a typically celebratory or eulogistic dramatic cantata for two or more singers and orchestra, performed outdoors in

116-437: A fast presto or allegro movement. There are strong influences from chamber music, and serenades can be subtly inserted into a chamber music program. A serenade can be considered somewhere in between a suite and a symphony, but is usually of a light and romantic nature — casual and without too many overly dramatic moments. Aubade An aubade is a morning love song (as opposed to a serenade , intended for performance in

145-426: A lilting dance melody in C ♯ minor . The first section repeats, and the second section begins in E Mixolydian . A string of eighth notes in the violins transitions into the second theme in A major. The first theme returns, and Part A is closed with a cadential fortissimo C-sharp minor chord . Part B opens with a modulation into the enharmonic parallel major of D ♭ major . This section's theme

174-600: A piece titled Aubade ; it premiered in 1929. In 2014 postmodern dancer and choreographer Douglas Dunn presented a piece titled Aubade , with costumes, video and lighting by Charles Atlas , and poetry by Anne Waldman . This poetry -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to classical music is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Serenade for Strings (Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k) Antonín Dvořák 's Serenade for Strings in E major ( Czech : Smyčcová serenáda E dur ), Op.  22 (B. 52),

203-431: A quotation of the first movement's theme, bringing the piece full circle. A Presto coda follows, and the Serenade ends with three E major chords. The Serenade (Op. 22) was aptly entitled, since at least four of its five movements (the second of which was a delightful waltz ) displayed an elegant touch suggestive of gracious living accompanied by 'serenading' in the stately home of some 18th-century aristocrat; in

232-630: A refrain with the word alba , and a watchman warning the lovers of the approaching dawn. The tradition of aubades goes back at least to the troubadours of the Provençal schools of courtly love in the High Middle Ages . The aubade gained in popularity again with the advent of the metaphysical fashion in the 17th century. John Donne 's poem "The Sunne Rising" exemplifies an aubade in English. Aubades were written from time to time in

261-579: A small orchestra (in the case of the Serenade No. 2, an orchestra entirely without violins ). Dvořák , Tchaikovsky , Josef Suk , Edward Elgar , and others wrote serenades for strings only, see Serenade for Strings (Dvořák) , Serenade for Strings (Tchaikovsky) , Serenade for Strings (Suk) , and Serenade for Strings (Elgar) , as did Hugo Wolf , who wrote one for string quartet (the Italian Serenade ). Other composers to write serenades in

290-415: Is developed, and then Part A returns. The movement ends on a C ♯ major chord. The third movement is a lively, hyperactive Scherzo in F major . The theme is stated and subsequently developed in sections of different tempos and moods, including a foray into A major . The most monothematic movement yet, the scherzo ends with a coda combining material from the scherzo and trio. The slow movement of

319-569: Is one of the composer's most popular orchestral works. It was composed in just two weeks in May 1875. By 1875, Dvořák was gaining recognition as a composer. He received a generous stipend from a commission in Vienna, allowing him to write the Serenade , in addition to Symphony No. 5 , String Quintet No. 2 , Piano Trio No. 1 , the opera Vanda , and the Moravian Duets . Dvořák

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348-580: Is said to have written the Serenade in just 12 days, from 3 to 14 May. The piece premiered in Prague on 10 December 1876 by Adolf Čech and the combined orchestras of the Czech and German theatres. Dvořák's piano duet arrangement was published in Prague in 1877 by Emanuel Starý . Two years later, Bote & Bock published the score in Berlin. Dvořák's Serenade for Strings consists of five movements: With

377-412: Is scored for full string orchestra, with staves for Violin I & 2, Viola ( divisi ), Cello (divisi) and Contrabass (double bass). It is typically performed with 4–6 instruments per part, though usually 2 or 3 double basses are sufficient. The first movement starts off the Serenade in the key of E major. The second violins and cellos introduce the lyrical main theme over an eighth note pulse in

406-461: Is the earliest of his compositions in which a detached listener is likely to discover enchantment. Just like delivering good news to someone has a positive rub-off effect on the messenger, performing Dvořák's Serenade is really a very therapeutic endeavor for performers. There is so much 'pure goodness' in it. Somehow even the moments which could cast a gloomy shadow – light melancholy of the Waltz, or

435-462: Is using a boombox to play music. One notable example is in the 1989 movie Say Anything when John Cusack's character Lloyd plays " In Your Eyes " by Peter Gabriel under his love interest's open bedroom window. A serenade is commonly of a multi-movement structure, ranging anywhere from four to up to ten movements. They usually are constructed with a fast opening movement, followed by middle slow movements that alternate with fast ones and close with

464-807: The Haffner Serenade , Serenade No. 10 for winds commonly known as Gran Partita , the Serenata notturna , and one of his most famous works, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik . The last two of these, had they been written earlier in the century, would have been atypical for using only string instruments . By the 19th century, the serenade had transformed into a concert work, and was less associated with outdoor performance for honorary occasions. Composers began to write serenades for other ensembles. The two serenades by Brahms are rather like light symphonies, perhaps more closely related to suites, except that they use an ensemble such as Mozart would have recognized:

493-443: The Serenade is tranquil and wistful. Its flowing melodies and tender phrases form a buffer between the vigorous third and fifth movements. The third theme of the second movement is quoted repeatedly throughout. The fifth movement is a lively, offbeat finale, conveying the spirit of a Bohemian village dance. The principal theme is a descending figure based on thirds with accents on weak beats. More thematic material enters at bar 32 as

522-415: The violas . The theme is traded back and forth, and the second violins reprise it under a soaring passage in the firsts. At measure 31, the movement modulates into G major and presents a new, dancelike theme, based on a dotted rhythm. At measure 54, the movement modulates back into E major and the primary theme returns. The movement ends on three E major chords. The second movement, a waltz, opens with

551-419: The 18th and 19th centuries. In the 20th century the focus of the aubade shifted from the genre's original specialized courtly-love context into the more generalized theme of a human parting at daybreak. In this reformulated context several notable aubades were published in the 20th century, such as " Aubade " by Philip Larkin . French composers of the turn of the 20th century wrote a number of aubades. In 1883,

580-637: The 20th century. Usually the character of the work is lighter than other multiple-movement works for large ensemble (for example the symphony ), with tunefulness being more important than thematic development or dramatic intensity. Most of these works are from Italy , Germany , Austria and Bohemia . Among the most famous examples of the serenade from the 18th century are those by Mozart , whose serenades typically comprise between four and ten movements. His serenades were often purely instrumental pieces, written for special occasions such as those commissioned for wedding ceremonies. Famous serenades by Mozart include

609-452: The French composer Emmanuel Chabrier composed an "Aubade" for piano solo, inspired by a four-month visit to Spain . Maurice Ravel included a Spain-inspired aubade entitled "Alborada del gracioso" in his 1906 piano suite Miroirs . An aubade is the centerpiece of Erik Satie 's 1915 piano suite Avant-dernières pensées . The composer Francis Poulenc later wrote (in concerto form)

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638-400: The evening by artificial light. Some composers of this type of serenade include Alessandro Stradella , Alessandro Scarlatti , Johann Joseph Fux , Johann Mattheson , and Antonio Caldara . Often these were large-scale works performed with minimal staging, intermediate between a cantata and an opera . The main difference between a cantata and a serenata, around 1700, was that the serenata

667-421: The evening), or a song or poem about lovers separating at dawn . It has also been defined as "a song or instrumental composition concerning, accompanying, or evoking daybreak". In the strictest sense of the term, an aubade is a song sung by a departing lover to a sleeping woman. Aubades are generally conflated with what are strictly called albas , which are exemplified by a dialogue between parting lovers,

696-482: The exception of the finale, which is in modified sonata form , each movement follows a rough ABA form . It is believed that Dvořák took up this small orchestral genre because it was less demanding than the symphony, but allowed for the provision of pleasure and entertainment. The piece combines cantabile style (first movement), a slow waltz (second movement), humorous high spirits (third movement), lyrical beauty (fourth movement) and exuberance (fifth movement). The work

725-461: The finale alone did the composer discard periwig and lace cuffs, and even here the junketing, though lively, was well-bred, and in the closing moments there was a delicious return to the courtliness of the opening. Pastiche perhaps, but what excellent pastiche! Since Dvořák was as yet only on the threshold of developing an individual style, it is perhaps not surprising that this slightly uncharacteristic but extremely accomplished and enjoyable Serenade

754-488: The morning. The custom of serenading in this manner began in the Medieval era, and the word "serenade" as commonly used in current English is related to this custom. Music performed followed no one particular form, except that it was typically sung by one person accompanying himself on a portable instrument, most likely a guitar, lute or other plucked instrument. Works of this type also appeared in later eras, but usually in

783-543: The movement entitled "Serenade" in Shostakovich 's last string quartet, No. 15 (1974). Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote a Serenade to Music (for 16 solo voices and orchestra) that premiered in 1938, while Leonard Bernstein composed his Serenade after Plato's "Symposium" (for solo violin, strings harp and percussion) in 1954. These modern serenades are freely explored adaptations to the serenade's original formal layout and instrumentation. A modern play on serenading

812-415: The violins and cellos trade calls and responses over running eighths in the violas. A third theme based primarily on sixteenth-note upbeats appears at bar 87. A wistful recollection of the melody from the preceding Larghetto appears and then diminuendos away. The movement's recapitulation starts with the main theme, followed in turn by the second and third themes. A 20-bar eighth-note passage leads into

841-470: Was performed outdoors and therefore could use instruments which would be too loud in a small room (for example, trumpets , horns , and drums ). The most important and prevalent type of serenade in music history is a work for large instrumental ensemble in multiple movements, related to the divertimento , and mainly being composed in the Classical and Romantic periods, though a few examples exist from

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