Romanticism
1800-1900
The Age of Romanticism
 Key trends in the 19th century include:
 The development of modern industry
 Growth of democratic governments
and national pride
 Increased emphasis on individual
thoughts and feelings in the creative
arts
The Industrial Revolution
 Began in England, where a long period of peace and prosperity
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encouraged expansion and innovation
Farming becomes more efficient, which tripled the population between
1750-1850
Invention of power machines were used initially in the textile industry,
but soon in mining, iron and steel production and for railways.
Communication was revolutionized with the railways and a cheap postal
system. Also the invention of the telegraph and the telephone.
Minerals were used as the basis for new fertilizers to increase food
production.
French developed a process for bleaching cloth and a new loom for
weaving patterns.
Americans invented the sewing machine and agricultural machines
Political, Intellectual, and Social
Changes
 French Revolution began in 1789, but the aftershocks were felt until
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1848.
Originally it was a democratic movement in the hands of Napoleon. In
1914, the French monarchy was reestablished and in 1815, the leaders
of the last campaign against Napoleon restored the old European balance
of power and the hierarchical systems of government.
Writers, thinkers, and artists reacted against the rationalism and
orderliness of the 18th century and yearned for a return to
emotionalism, complexity and traditional faith.
God and nature were seen as more important than reason and science.
There was a growth of Nationalism – People throughout Europe
began to foster their own national identities and rebel against outside
domination.
Political, Intellectual, and Social
Changes continued
 Industrial Revolution gave some great wealth, while condemning
others to work in the appalling conditions of the mines and
factories.
 Women and children began to work outside the home and were
paid half the wages of men.
 Although there were hardships during this period, there were also
benefits. Medical advances were made including the rabies vaccine
and the process for the sterilization of milk. Many charitable
organizations were formed, the establishment of free public schools
and the development of the political ideals of socialism and
communism. There was also colonial expansion, which played a
role in the 19th century obsession with exoticism. People got a
sense of diverse cultures.
The New Artistic Spirit (Writers)
 Johann Wolfgang Goethe, poet, novelist, and
dramatist, composed the poem Faust. This poem
tells the story of a man flouts God and convention
and follows his own vision
 Friedrich von Schiller wrote series of dramas
beased on historical and legendary figures.
 Edgar Allan Poe captivated his readers with his
mysterious and supernatural writings, as well as
Mary Shelley
Architecture
 Gothic cathedrals, now falling into ruin, became
inspiration for Romantics. Cathedrals such as Notre
Dame underwent renovations. The “modern”
architectural style was known as the “Gothic revival”
 Classical antiquity also provided inspiration and this
was known as the “Greek Revival” with columns,
triumphal arches, and huge rounded domes.
 Industrial Revolution enabled architecture and
sculpting to produce large works, such as the Brooklyn
Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower
Painting
 Painters attempted to capture their view of
the exotic, the irrational and the sublime.
They wanted to “Strike the imagination”
 Nature also inspired artists
Music
 Music embraced nature, nationalism, the exotic,
the minute, the monumental, with a focus on
individual consciousness and a fascination with
extreme expression
 E.T.A. Hoffman wrote in 1813 that music was
“the most romantic of all the arts, for its only
subject is the infinite.”
Music for All
 Concert halls built in every town
 Many cities established their own symphony
orchestras
 Industrialization made pianos cheaper and
more plentiful; most middle class
households owned a piano
The New Sound
 Small halls to large halls
 Audiences became bigger
 Orchestras became bigger (some call for over 100 players)
 Instruments were adapted so their sound would carry
farther (built for power and speed) Winds and brass were
equipped with complex key or valve systems
 The tuba and saxophone are invented during this period.
 The piano was enlarged and produced a louder sound. The
range was also extended.
 Orchestration – The technique of manipulating orchestral
sounds
Dynamics
 In classical period, range of dynamics does
not go beyond piano and forte. In Romantic
music, the range is extended. Now we see
fff or pppppp etc.
 Dynamics in the Romantic Period are more
frequent and less predictable.
Tempo and Expression
 The range of tempo also increases in the
Romantic period.
 More tempo changes within a movement
 The way that tempo is notated also changes.
Composers before the Romantic period would
simply write the tempo (Adagio, Moderato), but in
the Romantic period, they begin to include the
emotional content (Allegro agitato, espressivo)
Melody
 Usually much longer than those of the
Classical period
 They have a yearning quality about them
 They may speed up or slow down slightly in
the middle
 The primary aim was always expression of
feeling
Harmony
 One of the most important tools in the Romantic
search for expression.
 More unusual chords in unexpected combinations
are being used to create color and atmosphere
 Modulation – movement among keys, is more
frequent
 Composers even began ending the piece in a
different key from which they began.
 Chromatic melodies and harmonies became more
frequent
Form
 Loosening of form, blur the outlines of
form rather than highlight them
 Often difficult to hear form because the
pieces are longer
 Romantic composers wanted their music to
be as expressive as possible, to represent the
spontaneous flow of feelings rather than to
display a carefully organized structure.
 Form was still used
Program Music
 Program music - music that tells some kind of story
 Absolute music – music that has no meaning
outside the meaning of the music itself and the feelings
it produces in its listeners
 Composers have been writing program music for
years, but now in the Romantic period, there is more
of a focus on tying music to ideas, stories or events
 Composers sometimes published lengthy narratives to
accompany their works.
Favorite Romantic Genres
 Opera and symphony were the most extensive
genres
 Also, Song and Requiem Mass
 Concerto
 Chamber music
 Solo piano works
 Symphonic poem – a relatively short orchestral
work in one continuous movement, though it
may have contrasting sections, programmatic
Women in Nineteenth Century Music
 Music conservatories began to accept
women for musical training
 Mostly men played in orchestras, as many
thought it was “unseemly” for women to
appear as professional musicians in public
 Some women were involved in music by
being a hostess in a salon, or as wealthy
patrons of the arts.
Romantic Song
 Composed for single voice with piano
accompaniment, designed to be performed in a
private parlor
 Strophic – songs that use the same music for each
stanza of the poetry.
 Through-composed – songs that use different music
for each stanza
 Song cycle – a series of songs that are woven
together to make a narrative, or it may link several
songs by presenting them as different facets of a
single idea.