Romantic Time Period
1825-1900
The Age of expression
General Characteristics
•
•
•
•
Revolutions-Political, Industrial, Social
Scientific Advances
Nationalism
Nature
Characteristics of Romantic Art and
Above the Sea of
Literature Wanderer
Fog, by Casper David Friedrich,
• Emphasis on Nature and Love
• Aesthetic experience
-pleasing to the senses
• Intellectual
• Reaction against the age of
The enlightenment
1818
Differences?
Classical Art (Bottom)
Painting by: David Jacques-Lois
The Lictors Returning to Brutus the Bodies of
his Sons
Romantic Art (Top)
Eldena Ruin by Casper David
Friedrich 1825
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 Music
Classical
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
Music
Classical
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
Liszt
Chopin
Brahms
Wagner
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 Operas
Classical
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?