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Romantic Era History
Romantic Era History
1820-1900
French Revolution
was an influential period of social and political
upheaval in France that lasted from 1789 until
1799.
Inspired by liberal and radical ideas, the
Revolution profoundly altered the course of
modern history, triggering the global decline of
theocracies and absolute monarchies while
replacing them with republics and democracies
Historians widely regard the Revolution as
one of the most important events in human
history.
French Revolution
Abolition of the French monarchy
Establishment of a secular and democratic
republic that became increasingly authoritarian
and militaristic
Radical social change based on liberalism and
other Enlightenment principles
Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte
Armed conflicts with other European countries
Napoleon Bonaparte
Inventions
Romantic writers
The Romantic poets rebelled against the
conventional concerns of their Classical
predecessors;
One of the prime traits of all Romantic artist was
their emphasis on intensely emotional
expression. Another was their sense of
uniqueness, their heightened awareness of
themselves as individuals apart from all others.
I am different from all the men I have seen
If I am not better, at least I am different
- Jean Jacques Rousseau
Romanticism was born towards the end of the 18th century with the
works of these two great German writers.
Goethe wrote poetry, novels and plays; Schiller was a playwright.
Both of their writings were used to express romantic fascination with
emotion, life and death, sin and redemption, guilt and selflessness.
Painting
Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863)
Leader of the Romantic movement,
represented social concerns
Romanticism in Music
Founding of Conservatories
Improved musical
instruments
Strings
String sections increased in size
and were given more difficult
accompaniment parts (scales,
arpeggios)
Woodwinds
Development of new instruments
saxophone (baritone and tuba) were invented
by Adolf Sax
piccolo, bass clarinet and English horn were
added.
English Horn
Piccolo
Saxophone
Bass Clarinet
Percussion
Expanded to include bass drum, snare
drum, cymbals and other exotic
percussion instruments (gong, castanets)
Nationalists
Following the many wars and conflicts of the
19th century country boundaries in Europe
became more defined. Nationalistic music
(music that highlighted folksongs, dances,
folklore) abounded. Most nationalistic music
followed a more traditional pattern of
composition and sound. Many composers
utilized nationalistic melodies, dances and
stories.
Composer Examples: Smetana, Mussorgsky,
Rimsky-Korsakov, Wagner, Chopin, Verdi,
Puccini, Liszt
Composer
Composers gradually left the patronage system and
became free agents of their own works.
This meant that the composer, their music and their
livelihood depended on the publics approval.
For the first time, a composers work might not be
publicly performed during his or her lifetime.
Romantics saw themselves as outsiders, isolated from
mainstream society, struggling to express their creative
ideas.
In general, composers held higher social status than in
the Classical period.
Composers
Traditionalists
Tended to compose in the style of their
teachers (classical era). While extending the
elements of music, they rarely went outside of
the norms.
Composer Examples: Brahms, Tchaikovsky
Schumann, Mendelssohn, Franck, Schubert,
Chopin, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov,
Puccini, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Clara
Schumann
Conductor
Resulted from the orchestras growth in numbers and complexity
Became necessary to have one person to lead and control the
orchestra
Performer
Rise of virtuosic performers
the public was captured by virtuosity and
showmanship
Niccolo Paganini
Franz Liszt
General Musical
Characteristics
Individuality
Expressive Aims and Subjects
Nationalism and Exoticism
Rise and Importance of Program Music
Brass
Addition of valves and improvement to valves on brass instruments allowed
the playing of a full chromatic compass for the first time and to more easily
play quick runs of notes
Tubas and Trombones were added
Vocal Genres
Opera
Music Drama
Mass and Requiem
Art Song
Art song
An art song is a vocal music
composition, usually written for one
voice with piano accompaniment, and
usually in the classical tradition.
Art song can be traced back to the
Medieval period but became especially
popular during the Romantic era. Thus, it
is considered a genre of Romantic music.
Instrumental Music
Absolute music tended to reflect the Classical heritage of Mozart and Haydn;
it tended to be more traditional in compositional style and instrumentation
Symphony, concerto, sonata, string quartet
Character Pieces
In contrast to the large instrumental genres, these were smaller pieces
typically for piano called character pieces
Musical Elements
Melody
Age of lyricism
Highly important
Expression of personal feeling is the goal
Phrases tended to be longer and irregular in
length
Themes were more complex and utilized
chromaticism
Strong tied to harmony
Texture
Essentially homophonic
Vocal solo with expressive
accompaniment
Very rich and expressive harmony
Feeling of heaviness and richness
Melody and harmony just like coming
deeply into your soul
Timbre
Hugely important compared to other elements.
Composers give a lot of details.
Orchestra expand, tone color and expressiveness are
considered equal with form. beauty of sound
Piano is the most important single instrument
Solo voice and piano are very popular combination
Opera remains very important (golden age of opera)
Music is much difficult to play
Instrumentation
This period saw a full exploration of the instrumental
families.
Instruments were used for both their individual and
collective color potential.
Instrumental timbre was used to convey mood and
atmosphere.
The orchestra became much larger from 70 players to
more than 100 (resulting in the necessity of a conductor).
Instruments could play louder and carry farther.
Instruments were capable of major changes in dynamics.
Harmony
Basically tonal (tonal center can be easily
sense)
There is a sense of scale
Major and minor are slowly eroded
because of extra notes that is thrown in.
By end of the 19th century chromaticism
(movement by half steps) stretched
tonality to the breaking point
Chromaticism imbued greater dissonance
and tension into the sound
Rhythm
Fairly straight forward rhythms
Rhythmic effects were used for color rubato
a fluctuation of tempo within a musical
phrase often against a rhythmically steady
accompaniment
Irregular rhythms, unusual rhythm, become
more complex.
A new vocabulary of music terms arose that
indicated how to achieve the composers desired
sound cantabile, dolce, con amore, allegro
agitato. These designations produced a more
emotional sound and response.
Rhythm
A new vocabulary of music terms arose that
indicated how to achieve the composers desired
sound cantabile, dolce, con amore, allegro
agitato. These designations produced a more
emotional sound and response.
Dynamics
Gradual and frequent changes
Much wider range extremes of dynamic
variation
Used extensively throughout the
compositions