The Age of Romanticism
Early Romanticism
Lecture Notes
I.
Franz Schubert
A. 1797 – 1828
B. Lived most of his life in Vienna - lived at the same time as Beethoven in the same
city and only met each other once
C. Most of Beethoven’s music was published during his lifetime; only a small
percentage of Schubert’s work was published during his lifetime
D. Early musical training
1. Sang as a choirboy
2. Played the violin - performed string quartets at home with father and brothers,
played in the orchestra at the choir school
E. Left choir when his voice changed and was accepted as a composition student at the
Imperial Court of Vienna with Antonio Salieri
F. Father wanted Schubert to become a schoolmaster like himself; tried briefly but
soon gave it up and began his career as a composer
1. Moved to Vienna (apartment buildings)
2. Composed every morning; would then go to a café in the afternoon/evening to
spend time with his friends and fellow musicians
G. Schubert occasionally tried to win recognition and fame by composing an opera but
these were met with little success
1. Applied for several important musical positions but was always turned down
2. Seemed Vienna only had enough room for one brilliant composer, Beethoven
H. Was basically a lonely, introverted man. He despaired of achieving happiness
I. Died of syphilis on November 19, 1828
1. Final request was to be buried near Beethoven
2. Epitaph reads “Here the art of music has buried a rich possession but even more
promising hopes.”
J. Schubert’s Music
1. “Everything he touched turned into a song”
a. Greatest gift was his ability to capture the essence of a poem and turn it into
a song
b. During his short life, composed more than 600 songs
c. In addition to these individual songs, he wrote two song cycles
2. Composed a great variety of solo piano pieces
3. Composed many string quartets
4. Composed several operas
5. Composed 8 symphonies – last two are his most famous
a. Great C-Major Symphony (1828)
b. Unfinished Symphony (Schubert completed only the last two movements
before he died
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II.
III.
6. Composed more than 900 compositions (even greater productivity than Mozart)
in his 31 years
K. It is fascinating to contemplate how highly we would regard Schubert’s music if
Beethoven hadn’t been there at the same time
Hector Berlioz
A. 1803 – 1869
B. Oldest child of a French doctor and his strictly Catholic wife
C. Took music lessons as a child and began studied music theory on his own
D. Began to compose as a teenager
E. Father wanted him to become a doctor so Berlioz began medical school
1. Berlioz became more and more interested in music
2. Quit medical school against his fathers wishes and entered the Paris
Conservatory as a composition student at the age of 23
F. During the 1830s, Berlioz composed two highly regarded symphonic tone poems
1. Harold in Italy – inspired by a poem
2. Romeo and Juliet – inspired by Shakespeare’s play
G. In the 1840s, Berlioz should have been at the peak of his career; instead, he was
generally shunned by the French establishment however the rest of Europe was a bit
more supportive of his efforts
H. For the last part of his life, Berlioz was not in good health - he composed very little
and died a bitter, lonely man in 1869
I. Berlioz is buried in Paris
J. Berlioz’s Music
1. His greatest gift was that of orchestration - he could use the colors and texture
of the orchestra brilliantly
2. His works were some of the largest ever composed - his Requiem (composed in
memory of the national heroes of France) requires an orchestra of 140 players,
a huge chorus, four groups of brass and timpani placed at the corners of the
performance space
3. Best known work is Symphony Fantastique (5 movements)
Felix Mendelssohn
A. 1809 – 1847
B. Illustrates the uncomfortable position of being Jewish during this time in Europe
1. Grandfather was a famous Jewish philosopher
2. Father was a banker and prominent member of German society
3. Mother came from a distinguished family and was very musical
4. In 1811, the Mendelssohn family was forced to flee from Hamburg to Berlin
because of political reasons
5. When Felix as seven years old, his father had him baptized and converted the
family to Christianity
C. After that, the family enjoyed increasing prosperity and social status
1. Family home became a center for writers, artists, musicians and intellects of
Berlin society
2. Chamber concerts were held every week featuring the family
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IV.
D. By the time he was 20 years old, Felix had composed more than 100 pieces.
E. At the age of 20, Felix and a family friend that was an actor, arranged for the
performance of a piece of music that had not been performed in nearly a century –
Bach’s St. Matthew Passion
1. Felix conducted the performance – beginning of conducting as an art form
2. Landmark in the revival and appreciation of Bach’s music
F. In his twenties, Felix performed as a conductor and a pianist around Europe, earning
many important positions
G. Felix married in 1837 and had five children
H. In May 1847, his closest friend and confidante, his sister Fanny, dies
1. Felix is devastated
2. His last great work, a string quartet, is dedicated to her
3. Became ill and could no longer conduct or play
4. A series of strokes led to his death
5. Died at the age of 38
6. Is buried in Berlin near Fanny’s grave
I. Felix’s Music
1. Continued the Classical tradition while embracing some of the new Romantic
ideas
2. Admired the great composers of the past – Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven –
and that is evident in his music
3. His style is much smaller than that of other Romantic composers
4. Wrote several symphonies - best known are Scottish Symphony (Symphony 3),
Italian Symphony (Symphony 4)
5. Wrote several overtures; most famous is A Midsummer Night’s Dream - was
written as an overture for a production of the play
6. Composed two major oratorios
7. Wrote a great deal of sacred choral works for use in Jewish, Catholic and
Protestant services
8. Chamber music includes works for solo piano and string quartets
Fanny Mendolssohn
A. 1805 – 1847
B. Fanny was four years older than her brother Felix
C. Talented pianist and composer
D. Father strongly discouraged her from pursuing a career in music
1. Amateur music making was acceptable for women
2. A professional career was unsuitable
3. Brother Felix agreed with father
E. Fanny led a life of a well-educated middle class woman
1. Married at age 24
2. Had a son and ran family household
F. Continued to play at the weekly chamber music concerts at her parents’ home
G. Despite discouragement from her father, Fanny composed a great deal
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V.
1. Wrote many songs, some cantatas and oratorios, chamber music and small piano
pieces
2. Some of her early songs were published in collections with piece by her brother
and carried his name
3. After the death of her father, she did arrange for publication of a few of her
works
H. In all, Fanny composed about 400 works
1. Most of this remains unpublished and is housed in libraries throughout Europe
and the US
2. With the growing focus on the contribution of women in music history, more of
her works continue to come to light
Frederick Chopin
A. 1810 – 1849
B. First great piano virtuoso of the Romantic era
C. Born in 1810 to a French father and Polish mother
1. Father taught French in Warsaw
2. Mother taught piano at the same school in Warsaw
D. Began taking piano lessons at the age of seven; at age eight, he gave his first public
performance, age 15 performed before that tsar of Russia who presented him with a
diamond ring
E. At age 19, Chopin heard a great violin virtuous and decided that was what he
wanted to do
F. In 1830, Chopin completed two piano concertos, performed them and left Poland
for Paris - he would never return to his homeland again.
G. In Paris, Chopin was the toast of the town
1. Had a wide circle of friends, including other famous artists of the day like Berlioz
2. Was frequently asked to perform in prominent places in the city
H. Was introduced to Aurore Dudevant, a writer that published under the name George
Sand
1. They soon moved in together
2. The years that they spent together were the most productive of Copin’s life
3. Their relationship ended in 1847 and Chopin’s health rapidly deteriorated
I. Chopin died in 1849 from tuberculosis at the age of 39 - requested that the Mozart
Requiem be performed at his funeral
J. Chopin’s music
1. Poetry for the piano
2. Almost all of his works are for solo piano
3. His works are very personal
4. Several forms:
a. Dances – waltzes, polonaises, mazurkas
b. Free forms – preludes (one in each major and minor key, follow example of
Bach), etudes, nocturnes (moody, introspective pieces) and impromptus
(capture the essence of improvisation)
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VI.
5. Chopin’s works were made possible by the improvements of the piano
mechanisms
6. Made use of rubato – ebb and flow of the music, not in strict time
Robert Schumann
A. 1810 – 1856
B. Born in a small German town
C. Father was a bookseller
D. Enjoyed playing the piano - had lots of passion but not very good technique
E. After Schumann’s father died, he entered University of Leipzig as a law student
1. Had little interest in the subject
2. Drank heavily
3. Spent his money on having a good time
4. Met Frederick Weick, a prominent pianist and began taking lessons from him
F. Heard a performance by famous virtuoso violinist and decided to give up law school
and become a musician
1. Took a room in Frederick Weick’s house
2. Studied full time
3. Overdid his practicing and permanently damaged his hand
G. Is falling in love with Clara Weick, 10 years younger than him (She is 15)
1. She is a budding pianist
2. Father sees what is going on and sends Clara on long tours
3. The two write secret love letters to each other
4. Schumann pours his heart out into his music
H. In 1840, the two go to court in order to marry - Clara is 20 and Robert is 30
I. These are the happiest years of their life
1. Robert composes no fewer than 140 songs
2. Composed several symphonies
J. Clara goes on tour in 1842
K. In 1845, Schumann begins to experience the signs of depression and mental illness
that will haunt him the rest of his life
L. In 1850, Schumann was appointed music director (Kapellmeister) in Dusseldorf but it
soon becomes clear that he cannot handle the job
1. Newspaper reviews are unfavorable
2. Singers refused to attend rehearsals
3. Assistant conductor had to take over rehearsals at the last minute
M. Schumann began to suffer from hallucinations
N. On a rainy day in February 1854, Schumann left his house in his slippers and
bathrobe and walked to the bridge over the Rhine River
1. He jumped in
2. Several fishermen pulled him out and took him home
3. A few days later he was committed to a mental institution
O. With eight children to support, Clara was forced to tour again in order to maintain
the household
P. In 1856, she was summoned back by the doctors - Robert died at the age of 46
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VII.
Q. Schumann’s Music
1. Wrote masterful pieces for the piano
a. They include solo pieces specifically for children
b. Wrote only one piano concerto - written for Clara
2. Wrote 4 symphonies
3. Composed numerous songs
Clara Schumann
A. 1819 – 1896
B. Remarkable music career
1. Age of nine, first performed in public
2. Age eleven, gave her first complete solo recital
C. By the age of twenty, when she married Robert, she had an international reputation
D. Clara had 8 children in 14 years
1. Composed many pieces and always gave them to her husband for careful review
2. By the time of Robert’s death, she had 20 – 30 compositions published
E. After Robert’s death, Clara continued to perform in order to support her large family
- she wrote no more music.
F. In the later half of her life, she was the friend and confidante of Joahnnes Brahms.
1. Brahms had been a student of Robert
2. Was close to her during the end of Robert’s illness and life
3. Remained good friends throughout their lives
4. Clara never remarried and Brahms remained a bachelor for all of his life
G. Clara died at the age of 77 as her grandson played Robert Schumann on the piano
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