The Romantic Period
(1820-1900)
Year 10 IGCSE
2009-2010
Period Characteristics
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Stressed emotion, imagination, individuality
Freedom of __________________
Spontaneous and imaginative
The physical world
FOCUS: Working class and the poor
Characteristics of Romantic
Music
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Emotional intensity remains
Expressive, song like (from classical)
Greater range of _____, ______, _______
More unstable chords, more tension, less
balance
Specific Characteristics
Individuality of Style
 Unique to personalities
Expressive Subjects
 Unpredictability, longing, Shakespeare subjects
Nationalism
 Musical EXOTICISM
 Myths, legends
Program Music
 Association with a story or idea
 Associated with literature
Musical Characteristics
Tone Color
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Rich, sensuous, mood, ___________
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Orchestra had 100 musicians later
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Brass, woodwind, percussion more active
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Required more virtuosic techniques
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_____________ –romantic favorite, now improved
Harmony
 New chords, chromatic harmony, dissonance, variety of keys, modulations
Musical Characteristics Cont’d
Bigger Range
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Bigger range: _______ and _______ used
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Rubato and accelerations
Miniatures and Monumental
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Moods created from one melody and few chords
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Also some gigantic words – Berlioz and Wagner
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Compositions were longer and extended
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Thematic transformations
Romantic Composers
 Beethoven first to be free
 Aristocrats couldn’t afford private opera
houses
 Composers poor, now write for middle class
 Formations of philharmonics and
conservatories
 Private music making – piano at home
 Less familiar support
The Art Song
 Solo voice and piano, poetry and music
 STROPHIC
 THROUGH COMPOSED
 SONG CYCLE
Detailed Look: Program Music
 Instrumental music based on: poem, story
 Ie. Symphony Fantastique – Berlioz
 Suggest mood, sounds, exploits musical
elements
 ___________ is important
 Usually: piano and orchestra
Romantic Music Forms
 PROGRAM SYMPHONY –
 CONCERT OVERTURE –
 SYMPHONIC POEM/TONE POEM –
 INCIDENTAL MUSIC –
Closer Look: Nationalism
 19th Century – homeland important
 Fold songs, dances, original folk flavours
 History, legends, landscapes
Russian Five
 Nationalistic
 Ancient church modes
 Irregular meter (5 beats/bar)
 RUSSIAN 5 – all have other
occupations