The Romant

ic Period

circa 1820 - 1900

Periods of Western Musical History

1. Medieval (476 A.D. to 1400 A.D.)2. Renaissance (1400 to 1600 A.D.)3. Baroque (1600 to 1750)4. Classical (1750 to 1820)5. Romantic (1820 to 1900)6. Impressionist (1875 to 1925)7. Modern (1900 to 1960)8. “Post-Modern” (1960-present)

(aka “Contemporary”)

Periods of Western Musical History

1. Medieval (476 A.D. to 1400 A.D.)2. Renaissance (1400 to 1600 A.D.)3. Baroque (1600 to 1750)4. Classical (1750 to 1820)5. Romantic (1820 to 1900)6. Impressionist (1875 to 1925)7. Modern (1900 to 1960)8. “Post-Modern” (1960-present)

(aka “Contemporary”)

Romanticism (also known as the Romantic Era or the "Romantic Period') was an

artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th

century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution. In part, it was a revolt against aristocratic social and political norms of the Age of Enlightenment

and a reaction against the scientific rationalization of nature. Romanticism was embodied most strongly in the visual arts,

music and literature.

“Liberty Leading The People” (1830) by French Romantic period painter Eugène Delacroix

“Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog”

by the German Romantic painter

Caspar David Friedrich

(1774 – 1840)

Characteristics of Romantic Period Music

1. Individuality of musical style with emphasis on self-expression

2. Development of new harmonies, including chromatic harmonies - harmonies that use all the keys of the piano keyboard - the black keys and the white keys - together.

3. Development of "program music" – music that depicts a story or scene

4. Development of "nationalism" in music, such as French music, Spanish music, Hungarian music, Czech, music, etc., incorporating native folk music

5. Greater variety of mood, atmosphere and tone color

6. Expanded orchestra size for many new compositions, including large brass sections, expanded woodwind sections and the addition of new instruments, such as English horn, bass clarinet, contrabassoon and added percussion.

7. Development of a wider range of musical dynamics - (volume) - from very soft ("pianissimo") to very loud ("fortissimo") often encompassing soaring musical high points

8. Greater flexibility of tempo, (musical speed) incorporating the increased use of accelerandos (speeding up) and ritardandos (slowing down), as well as extensive use of rubato (the bending and stretching of tempo/rhythm).

Ludwig van Beethoven German; 1770-1827

9 Symphonies, 5 Piano Concertos,1 Violin Concerto

Many Works for PianoChamber Music

1 Opera

Composers of the Romantic Period

Franz Schubert Austrian; 1797-1828

9 Symphonies, 600+ Songs,

Chamber MusicSolo Piano Music

Unfinished Symphony (0’47”) Gretchen am Spinnrade

Composers of the Romantic Period

Gioacchino Rossini Italian; 1792-1868

Many Operasincluding

The Barber of Seville and William Tell

William Tell Overture Part 1 Part 2 / (Finale: 2’44”)

Largo al Factotum

Composers of the Romantic Period

Hector BerliozFrench; 1803-1869

SymphoniesOperas

Overtures

Symphonie Fantastique March to the Scaffold

Composers of the Romantic Period

Felix Mendelssohn German; 1809-1847

5 Symphonies, Concertos, Overtures,

Chamber MusicChoral Music

Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream

Composers of the Romantic Period

Robert Schumann German; 1810-1856

Symphonies, 1 Piano Concerto

Many Songs (Lieder) Piano Music

Lied: "Ich grolle nicht"

Composers of the Romantic Period

Frederic Chopin Polish; 1810-1849

Piano MusicChopin, (along with Liszt)

was one of the two most important composers of

piano music in the Romantic period. His works for solo

piano are among the cornerstones of the piano

repertoire.“Heroic” Polonaise in A-flat, Opus 53

Composers of the Romantic Period

Franz Liszt Hungarian; 1811-

1886 Piano Music, Tone Poems,

2 Piano Concertos

Liszt is one of the most important composers of

piano music in the Romantic period.

Liebestraum

Composers of the Romantic Period

Richard Wagner German; 1813-1883

OperasWagner composed the

most important German operas of the Romantic

period including The Flying Dutchman,

Lohengrin, Tannhauser, The Ring Operas and

Tristan and Isolde.

Prelude to Die Meistersinger

Composers of the Romantic Period

Giuseppe VerdiItalian; 1813-1901

Operas

Verdi was one of the two most important composers

of Italian operas of the Romantic period, or any

period of operatic history.[Aida, La Traviata,

Rigoletto, Il Trovatore]

"Libiamo" from La Traviata

Composers of the Romantic Period

Anton Bruckner Austrian; 1824-1896

9 Symphonies, Choral Music

Bruckner is best known for his symphonies, in which he expanded the symphonic form in both

length and scope.

Symphony No. 4 - Finale

Composers of the Romantic Period

Johann Strauss Jr. Austrian; 1825-1899 Waltzes,

Polkas, Operettas

Known as the “Waltz King,” Johann Strauss,

Jr. was the leading composer of “light”

music during the Romantic period.

On the Beautiful Blue Danube

Composers of the Romantic Period

Johannes Brahms 1833-1897

4 Symphonies, Concertos, Piano Works, Songs,

Chamber Music

Brahms is considered to be one of the most

important composers of the Romantic period.

Symphony No. 4 - 1st Movement

Composers of the Romantic Period

Peter Illych Tchaikovsky Russian; 1840-1893

6 Symphonies, Ballets, Concertos,

Other Orchestral Works,Operas

Tchaikovsky is also considered to be one of the

most important composers of the Romantic period.

Symphony No. 4 - Finale

Composers of the Romantic Period

Antonin Dvorak Czech; 1841-1904

9 Symphonies, Concertos, Other Orchestral Works

Chamber Music, Choral Music

Dvorak is one of the most important composers of

orchestral music of the late Romantic period.

New World Symphony - Adagio

Composers of the Romantic Period

Giacomo PucciniItalian; 1858-1924

OperasPuccini is one of the two

most important composers of Italian opera in the Romantic

period, or any period in operatic history.

[La Boheme, Tosca, Madame Butterfly, Turandot

Manon Lescaut] "O soave fanciulla" from La

Boheme

Composers of the Romantic Period

Richard Strauss German; 1864-1949 Tone Poems, Operas,

Songs (Lieder)

Richard Strauss is the composer of the most

important tone poems ever composed, as well as the most important German operas in

the post-Wagner Romantic era.

Don Juan - Opening

Composers of the Romantic Period

Gustav Mahler1860-1911

9 Symphonies, Songs (Lieder)

Mahler is the last great composer of symphonies in

the school of Austrian & German composers that

included Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Bruckner & Brahms.

Symphony No. 2 - Finale - Ending

Composers of the Romantic Period

Sergei Rachmaninoff Russian; 1873-1943

Concertos, Piano Music, Symphonies, Songs

Rachmaninoff was one of the greatest pianists in history, as well as one of the last of the great Romantic composers. His life and career extended well into the Modern era of

musical history.Concerto No. 2 for Piano - Opening

Composers of the Romantic Period