Paul Schoenfield's Cafe Music

So often we look at music and composers who walked the earth hundreds of years ago. These men and women were quite talented and certainly worth being remembered. But did you know that we also have talented composers alive and working in the world today? This month, Clef Notes looks at a few of these composers and their music. Today, we kick things off with Paul Schoenfield.

If you frequently tune to 90.9, you’ve likely heard Schoenfield’s Four Parables or perhaps his Café Music. But did you know that Café Music was inspired by a Minneapolis restaurant’s house trio? That’s right – Schoenfield is not only a composer but a pianist, and after stepping in for the pianist in this house trio, it dawned on him that it would be neat to write classy dinner music that could also be performed in a concert hall! He took the Broadway, gypsy, and light classical sounds he heard the trio perform and created his own work. 

Schoenfield began his music studies as a child on piano and quickly realized he had a passion for composing. His teachers include famous names such as Rudolf Serkin and Julius Chajes. His works have been performed by major orchestras including the New York Philharmonic and the Seattle Symphony. His music finds inspiration in folk and popular styles as well as traditional classical models.

Join me next time as we look at a composer known for writing flute and piccolo music!

Puccini's La Boheme

This summer, the Cincinnati Opera performs Puccini’s La Bohème. Let’s wrap up our opera conversation this month by mentioning this lovely Italian opera dating from late 19^th century.

Giacomo Puccini was known to create his own unique style, combining elements of the great opera composers who came before him: Verdi’s gorgeous vocal melodies and Wagner’s leitmotifs. Puccini used arias, choruses, duets, etc. and often blurred the distinction between recitatives and arias used in operas in the prior century.

La Bohème is perhaps Puccini’s most famous opera. Set in Paris around 1830, the tale revolves around the love between Parisian artists. The score is emotional and lyrical, depicting the good and sad times of life – from a first meeting to a last farewell. The melodies are memorable, and carefully used to depict the mood and setting of each scene. One example of how Puccini brilliantly used melody in this opera is in his slight alterations to a theme – first foreshadowing the plan to go to Café Momus in town during Act I, then developing the theme once the friends arrive in town during Act II, and finally turning this same theme into a distant memory during Act III.  

There’s good reason why La Bohème has remained one of the most popular operas of all time. But please do not take my word for it! Go watch the Cincinnati Opera perform it this summer and in the meantime, enjoy Musetta’s Waltz from Act II sung here by Anna Netrebko.

Wagner's Gesamtkunstwerk

Today let’s talk about a highly influential German opera composer: Richard Wagner. Wagner believed in the synthesis of music and drama into one “total artwork.” Detailing the staging, lighting, costuming, music, acting, etc. in his scores/librettos (yes he wrote the text and music to his operas!), Wagner coined the term “Gesamtkunstwerk” (total artwork) to describe his creations.

Another important musical term used in reference to Wagner’s operas is “leitmotif” (leading motive). This word is used to describe main themes throughout the opera that typically represent a specific person, object, etc. This theme occurs in various contexts throughout the opera, and though recognizable, it is varied or transformed in different ways to best depict the current point in the drama. Certain instruments, keys, or harmonies may also be used in connection with various leitmotifs in order to help the listener make the connection.

Wagner’s Ring cycle is an excellent example of a work using leitmotifs to connect music and drama in this Gesamtkunstwerk idea. During these four operas, Wagner introduces various leitmotifs that reappear throughout the cycle. Constantly using this thematic material, Wagner makes these musical ideas integral to the drama on stage. Take a look at this informative video by members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra brass section in which they describe several uses of the leitmotif in the Ring cycle.  

Wagner had an incredible influence on composers to come after him. His leitmotif ideas have even found their way into film and television scores, composers using certain musical ideas to depict specific elements on screen. One great example of this is the “shark theme” found in Jaws. 

Do you have a favorite Wagner opera? Have you noticed the use of leitmotifs in any of your favorite movies or television shows?