Description. Carissimi, "father of oratorio and cantata."
Alessandro Scarlatti. Another Alessandro. Dr. Parry's opinion. "San
Giovanni Battista" and famous air. Tradition about Stradella. What
recent writers say. Handel and the "Messiah." Bach and the "Passion
Music." "The Creation" and Haydn. Beethoven's "Mount of Olives."
Mendelssohn, in "St. Paul" and "Elijah." Oratorios of Liszt and
Gounod. Next step in the evolution.


Symphony and Symphonic Poem 247

That adventurous spirit, Monteverde. Charm in exploring resources of
instrumentation. Operatic overture. Forge of genius. Dance of
obscure origin. Craving for individual expression. Touch of
authority by Corelli. Cardinal Ottoboni's palace. Symphony, a sonata
for orchestra. Purcell, Scarlatti, Sammartini and the Bachs.
Monophonic style. Contrasting movements. German critic on early
sonata. Further explanation. Meaning of symphony. Haydn with
Esterhazy orchestra. Father of the symphony. Mozart. Beethoven.
Schubert. Schumann. Mendelssohn. Berlioz, the musical heretic. His
"fixed idea" and programme music. Liszt and symphonic poem.
Saint-Saëns. Tschaikowsky and Russian spirit. Sinding. Grieg. Gade.
Brahms and absolute music.




Preface