Romantic Time Period

1825-1900

The Age of expression

General Characteristics

• Revolutions-Political, Industrial, Social

• Scientific Advances

• Nationalism

• Nature

Characteristics of Romantic Art and

Literature• Emphasis on Nature and Love

• Aesthetic experience

-pleasing to the senses

• Intellectual

• Reaction against the age of

The enlightenment

Wanderer Above the Sea of

Fog, by Casper David Friedrich,

1818

Differences?

Classical Art (Bottom)

Romantic Art (Top)

Eldena Ruin by Casper David

Friedrich 1825

Painting by: David Jacques-Lois

The Lictors Returning to Brutus the Bodies of

his Sons

Authors of the Romantic Period• Charles Dickens-England

– famous work “A Christmas carol”

• Edger Allan Poe-America

– Famous poem “the raven”

• William Wordsworth-England

– Poem “Tintern Abbey”

Musical Characteristics• Longer phrases

• Chromaticism

• Longer Symphonies

• Extended chord tones (adding notes)

Differences with Classical and

Romantic MusicClassical Romantic

Melody Disjunct and conjunct Often lyrical, long irregular

phrases

Harmony Modulation to closely related

keys

Increased use of modulation

Rhythm Mixture, not always driving Frequent change in meters

with different movements

Form Sonata Allegro, Opera Same as classical but

expanded

Texture Homophonic Homophonic

Ideals of Classical Music vs. Romantic

MusicClassical Romantic

Music stayed in the lines Music explored outside the lines

Modulation to very close keys Modulated to unrelated keys

Beethoven led the way to the Romantic time period.

You can hear major differences between his 5th symphony and his 9th

symphony

Art Song

• Solo voice and Piano

• Often short

• High artistic and literary quality

• Ends with a postlude (played by the piano)

Turn my piano to the side!

• Jan Ladislav Dussek

• Wanted his admirers to be able to see his profile.

Piano Music of Liszt and Chopin

Liszt Chopin

Pulsating chordal background to melodies Very Lyrical

Limited range Used a wide range of notes

Johannes Brahms• May 7, 1833- April 3, 1897

• Born in Hamburg, Germany

• Moved to Vienna, Austria

• composer and pianist

• Was considered the successor

of Beethoven

• Composed over 215 works

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

• May 7, 1840- November 6, 1893

• Born in Russia

• Studied music against parents will

• Mentally unstable

• Composed hundreds of pieces

• Died from E coli

• Famous compositions include

– The Nutcracker

– 1812 Overture

– Swan Lake

– Sleeping Beauty

Richard Wagner• May 22 1813-February 13, 1883

• Born in Germany

• Known for complex texture, rich

harmonies and large orchestration

• Adolf Hitler admired his music

• Famous compositions include

– Ride of the Valkyries

– Wedding March

Franz Peter Schubert

• January 31 1797- November 19, 1828

• Austrian composer

• Over 600 compositions

• Wrote piano music for 4 hands

• Famous compositions include

– Marche Militaire D 733 No. 1

Famous Romantic Composers in order of birth

Schubert

Chopin

Liszt

Wagner

Brahms

Tchaikovsky

Symphonies

• Brahms

– 4

• Tchaikovsky

– 6

• Schubert

– 9

Program Music

• A type of art music

• Often times included a narration in the

concert program that painted a picture or a

scene.

• Counteracted absolute music.

How did Romantic operas differ from

Classical OperasClassical Romantic

Short melodic lines Longer melodic lines with chromaticism

Backed up by small ensemble or organ Backed up by larger ensembles or orchestra

German Operas-Romantic Italian Operas-Romantic

Instrumental part just as important as vocal Vocal line predominant

Rubato

• Stolen Time

• Slowing down to add tension

• Didn’t keep a steady beat

• Chopin mastered this technique

Nationalism

• Patriotic Music

• Composers have pride in their country and put

folk songs into their compositions

• Ex: Mussorgsky-Pictures at an exhibition

The “Mighty 5” Russian nationalist

composers• Mily Balakirev

• Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov

• Modest Mussorgsky

• Alecksandr Borodin

• Cesar Cui

Romantic Instruments

• Woodwind

– Saxophone

• Brass

– Tuba

– French horn

• Keyboard

– Xylophone

Listening example 1

• Composer: Richard Wagner

• Title: “Ride Of The Valkyries”

• Date: 1854

• Texture: Homophonic

• Form: Opera

• Additional Information: Instrumental version as

well.

Listening example 2

• Composer: Tchaikovsky

• Title: Nutcracker Suite “Trepak”

• Date: 1892

• Texture: Homophonic

• Form: Ballet

• Additional information: Set of dances

Listening Example 3

• Composer: Mussorgsky

• Title:” Night on bald mountain”

• Date: 1867

• Texture: Homophonic

• Form: Tone Poem

• Additional Information: The

actual real title is “A Night On

Bare Mountain” Meaning a

mountain without trees.

21) Do you consider yourself a classic

or romantic

• And why?