Cite the similarities and differences of the two musical periods.

Characteristics of Music in Classical and Romantic Era

1. Musical Expression

Similarities

 In reference with European classical music, the Romantic era saw an extension of structure
and expression.
 Rhythms and meters are standard, with a focus on the first beat of each measure
 The composer's personal struggles and triumphs could be expressed in stormy music that
places a higher emphasis on emotion than on beauty. Music could be wildly joyful, terrified,
despairing, or filled with deep longings; it could be wildly joyful, terrified, and despairing.
 They both developed out of the political ideas of individualism that emerged during the Age
of Enlightenment, emphasizing individual self-expression.
 Melody and harmony are another similarity that spans all musical periods. According to the
"Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Classical Music," melody and harmony were not ruined
during the Romantic period; rather, they were merely built upon.

Differences

 Classical music was highly expressive and communicative, but romantic composers placed
an even greater emphasis on the human condition and spiritual struggle.
 Dynamic range is greatly expanded in classical music than in the preceding period while in
romantic era, dynamics are greatly expanded, including long, orchestrated crescendos and
decrescendos, dramatic climaxes, expressive shadings, and quick changes.
 Romantic composers put a lot of effort into defining individual music as opposed to the
group music approach that was common during the classical era.

2. Orchestra

Similarities

 In the classical era, the orchestra was well-established, and it continued to be popular in the
romantic and post-romantic periods.
 The use of an orchestra is one of the key parallels between the two periods; both periods
created the sound with the use of a stringed section as well as a winds section. These
orchestras had self-contained strings, with the wind instruments filling in the gaps.

Differences

 The symphony started as a three- or four-movement musical style with a length of about
twenty minutes during the classical era. The shape of the symphony changed drastically
during the romantic era, moving toward a more coherent structure.
  The distinction here is in terms of the total number of performers. Even in Haydn's late
symphonic works from the classical period, the composer would not have called for more
than 50 performers, while late romantic symphonic works often need over a hundred.

3. Instrument

Similarities

 As a solo instrument and in the orchestral setting of the concerto, the piano remained one
of the most common instruments during both periods of music. Piano trios, quartets, and
quintets were also popular during both periods. Moreover, the entire choir (soprano, alto,
tenor, bass) remained the focal point for many extraordinary works in both eras.

Differences

 Strings which compose of first and second violins, violas, violoncellos, and double basses,
then two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two or four horns, two trumpets,
and two timpani made up the Classical orchestra. Haydn added clarinets as part of the
woodwind section in the London Symphonies towards the end of his career, a move that
would become irreversible. Haydn also pioneered the following innovations: trumpets were
used separately rather than often doubling the horns, cellos and double basses were
divided, and woodwind instruments were often given the main melodic line. Haydn
introduced certain percussion instruments not commonly found in orchestras at the time,
such as the triangle, hand cymbals, and bass drum, in the Military Symphony (No. 100), and
they are used in the second movement, which is normally the slow movement in the
Classical tradition.
 The bigger the size of the instrument the better when it comes to the Romantic Era.
Woodwind instruments such as the contrabassoon, bass clarinet, and piccolo joined
the ensemble as guests, and the percussion section grew in size with the inclusion of
xylophones, drums, celestes, harps, bells, and triangles.

References:

https://www.cmuse.org/classical-vs-romantic-music/

https://www.britannica.com/art/instrumentation-music/Arrangement-and-transcription

https://www.connollymusic.com/stringovation/the-romantic-period-of-music

https://www.cram.com/essay/Similarities-Between-Classical-Music-And-Romantic-
Period/F3LK67HLJ5XQ#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20main%20similarities,instruments%20filled%20in
%20the%20gaps.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-epcc-musicappreciation/chapter/romantic-era-explored/