ROMANTIC MUSIC

PERIOD: MOVING OUR

IMAGINATION AND
FEELINGS
Famous Opera
Singers
1. The Three Tenors -considered three of the greatest
opera stars of the late 20th, Plcido Domingo (Spanish),
Jos Carreras (Spanish), and Luciano Pavarotti (Italian)
2. Opera star Maria
Callas - in costume for
the title role in the opera
"Mde" (Medea) by
Italian composer Luigi
Cherubini. Considered
one of the most raxing
vocal roles, it became
one of the soprano's
greatest triumphs
ROMANTICISM
-several groups of artists, poets, writers and
musicians as well as political, philosophical and
social thinkers and trends of the 18th and early
19th centuries in Europe

-artistic, literary, and intellectual development

-originated in Western Europe during the
Industrial Revolution
*Ideologies and events of the French
Revolution (?) - thought to have influenced
the movement -brought to focus the
working class and the poor
emphasis was on emotion, imagination, and
individualism

stresses freedom of expression

basic quality is emotional subjectivity

emphasis is on intuition, imagination, and feeling

music here is more on fantasy, the unconscious,
irrational, fiction, supernatural and the world of dreams
* in music, Romanticism refers specifically
to the period roughly from 1815-1918
Aspects of Romaticism in Literature
and Art that have affected Romantic
Music
Conditions
During the
Romantic
Period (1820-
1900)

Many Romantic musicians were inspired by the image
of Beethoven as a "free artist". He often composed NOT
TO MEET DEMANDS of aristocratic or church patron,
but an inner need TO EXPRESS HIS FEELINGS AND
THOUGHTS

Romantic composers came from the middle class and
wrote primarily for the middle class

Musicians and composers
have different works

~Conductors (like
Mendelssohn)








~Music Teachers (like
Chopin)

~Music Critics (like Berlioz)








~ Touring virtuosos (like
Liszt)
Rise of the middle class

~led to the formation of many orchestras and the development
of private music-making

~piano became a fixture in every middle-class home

~music conservatories were founded in Europe and USA

~ audience was fascinated with the virtuosity; Liszt(piano
virtuoso) while Nicole Paganini (violin virtuoso)

Solo recitals were held (like that of Clara Schumman)
Characteristics of Romantic
Music
Subjectivity, emotionalism,
longing, exuberance,
imbalance, asymmetry,
picturesqueness, and fantasy
Rise of program in music,
nationalism, impressionism,
realism, and mysticism
Period of experimentation in
music
Symphonic poem or tone poem
Favorite subjects are
supernatural (magic, fairies,
ghosts)
Changes in Music which were
Evident in the Romantic Period
Emphasis was on self-expression
they used music to express
emotion, ideas, and feelings
Classical forms were still
used like the symphony but
with a new intensity
Intensified popularity of program
music in which events or scenes were
portrayed by instruments
expansion of the orchestra provided greater variety
of sound
Tonal gravity tends to be less strong
Emphasis was on harmonic
instability
Composers used new chords and found novel
ways of using familiar chords
more prominent use of chromatic harmony and chord
tones that are not found in the prevailing major and minor
scales were used
Chromatic Scale
Dissonant Chords- used more freely than during the Classical
Era
variety of keys and rapid modulations; use of dynamics
and expansion of range of pitch
ffff or pppp frequent crescendos and
decrescendo
emphasis on romantic variation and
contrast
Vocal Forms during the
Romantic Period
The Art Song

one of the most distinctive forms of Romantic
music
a composition for solo voice and piano
its accompaniment is an integral part of the
composition
the voice as the interpretative partner of the
accompaniment
shows intimate fusion of poetry and music
melodic line is expressive and closely adapted to
the text
piano accompaniment becomes an equal partner
in the projection of mood and meaning of the text

Review
1. Plcido Domingo (Spanish), Jos
Carreras (Spanish), and Luciano
Pavarotti (Italian) were known as
__________

2. Romantic musicians were inspired by
__________s image as a "free artist".
3. A composition for solo voice and piano
4. Chords that were used more freely in
Romantic era than during the Classical era
5. An artistic, literary and intellectual
development that originated in Western
Europe during the Industrial Revolution
Romanticism
The Three Tenors
Chopin
Self-expression
Mendelssohn
Beethoven
Art Song
Dissonant
Berlioz
Liszt

6. Using music to express emotions and ideas
7. Musician who worked as
conductor

8. Musician who worked as
music teacher

9. Musician who worked as
music critic

10. Musician who worked
as touring virtuoso

Romanticism The Three
Tenors
Chopin Self-
expression
Mendelssohn
Beethoven
Art Song Dissonant
Berlioz Liszt

Two Song Forms:

Strophic and Through-composed
Form
Strophic Form
- uses the same music for each
stanza, making it easy to
remember
- used in folk songs
Through-composed form
- uses different music for each stanza
- allows music to reflect a poems
changing moods
The Song
Cycle
group of romantic art songs

Unified by a story line that runs through the
poem

Unified by musical ideas linking the songs

Examples: Schuberts The Winter Journey
(1827) and Schumanns Poets of Love
(1840)

through art songs, romantic composers
achieved a perfect union of music and
poetry
Other
Characteristics of
Vocal Forms
the basso continuo accompaniment was
not employed in the Romantic Period

the recitative and aria are found in
Wagners music-dramas

The Lieder (song) of the German Romantic
composers is the most characteristic
expression of the Romantic Period
Opera
became a very popular vocal form during
the Romantic Period
characteristics were no longer mystical;
instead portrayed real-life heroes
The plots are events and situations that
happen in real life
well-known composer: Giuseppe Verdi
(1813-1883)
Verdi popularized Italian operas in which
lead singers become popular for the roles
they portrayed. Masterpieces:
Aida
Othello
La Traviata
Flastaff

Wagner expressed character,
emotion or event. The Ring des
Nibelungen consists of four music
dramas


Wagners life is a long struggle in
making his vision of music drama and
reality
* Patrons watch a lavish
performance of an opera at
Covent Garden theater in
London, England. Officially
known as the Royal
Opera House, the theater
is Englands foremost
location for opera and ballet
Improvements in the
Romantic Opera
the Romantic orchestra reached its full development
during the Romantic Period

the orchestra grew in the number of players and
with improved instruments

Composers expression is shown in a wide range in
emotions and atmospheres

addition of keys gave woodwind instruments wider
range and more volume

addition of valve in the brass instruments made
them easy to play and free to perform their role as
support. These instruments were popular because of
the unique tones they produced

the valve improved the range and tone of brass
instruments

the piano was given an iron frame instead of wood
which resulted to wide and fuller sound

the woodwind section consisted of instruments of
different sizes. New instruments were added to play solo

new members of the orchestra were added to play solo
piccolo, English horn, and bass clarinet
the French horn became a stand out in the orchestra

the inclusion of the trombone and the tuba added to the
effectiveness of the ensemble







stringed instruments increased in number

Techniques, such as arpeggios, are fully utilized

some instruments were also added to the percussion group,
increasing the number of instruments in the section
Program Music
-Instrumental music associated with a story, poem,
idea or scene
- intended to evoke extra-musical ideas, images in
the mind of the listener by musically representing
a scene, image or mood
- Program ~ non-musical element that is specified
by a title or explanatory comments
Absolute Music
-stands for itself
- intended to be appreciated without any
particular reference to the outside world
When Did Program Music
Flourish?
particularly flourished during the Romantic era
when music was closely associated with
literature
Berlioz, Shumman, Liszt and Wagner were
prolific authors who were intoxicated with ideas
related to a union of the arts
union of the arts union of music and poetry or a fusion of many arts
Poets wanted their poetry to be musical and Musicians
wanted their music to be poetic
composers believed that the dynamics of sound
(softness or loudness) that were newly possible in the
Romantic orchestra allowed them to focus on emotions
and other intangible aspects of life
Examples of Program Music
Ludwdig van Beethovens 1808 Symphony No.6
(pastoral) contains depictions of bird call, a babbling book,
a storm and so on

Beethovens Piano Sonata Op.81a, Les Adieux depicts
departure and return of his close friend the Archduke
Rudolph

Tchaikovskys Romeo and Juliet
-inspired by Shakespeares play: the agitated
music depicts feud between rival families, the
tender melody conveys young love while the
funeral-march rhythm suggest the lovers tragic
death


Smetanas The Moldau
-uses musical effects that call to
mind a flowing stream, a hunting
scene, peasant wedding, and a
crash of waves



Richard Strausss An Alpine Symphony
-musical description of ascending and descending
mountain, with 22 sections such as Night, Sunrise,
By the Waterfall, and Storm and Descent

program music also lives on movie soundtracks
often feature ultra-modern sounding atonal
programmatic music
Review

1. Form that uses the same music for each
stanza, making it easy to remember
3. Form that uses different music for each stanza
2. The characteristics in this vocal form were no
longer mystical; instead portrayed real-life heroes
4. uses musical effects that call to
mind a flowing stream, a hunting
scene, peasant wedding, and a
crash of waves
5. inspired by Shakespeares play
Strophic
Opera
Covent Garden
Absolute Music
Through-composed
Program music
Arpeggios
Romeo and Juliet
Verdi
The Moldau
Strophic
Opera
Covent Garden
Absolute Music
Through-composed
Program music
Arpeggios
Romeo and Juliet
Verdi
The Moldau
6. One of the techniques fully utilized in Romantic era
7. Popularized Italian operas. His
masterpieces include Aida, Othello, La
Traviata, Flastaff

8. Music that stands for itself, intended to be
appreciated without any particular reference to
the outside world

9. Instrumental music associated with a
story, poem, idea or scene

10. Officially known as the Royal Opera
House; Englands foremost location for
opera and ballet
Prominent
Romantic
Composer
s
Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828)
earliest master of romantic art song
Austrian composer

born on January 31, 1797 in Himmelpfortggrund, near Vienna
learned violin from his schoolteacher-father and piano from his
father
joined precursor of the Vienna Boys Choir (1808), making such
quick progress that Antonio Salieri undertook to guide his training
(1810-1816)
trained as a schoolteacher
in 1815, wrote 2 symphonies, more than 100 songs and 4 stage
works
in 1818, he quit teaching at his fathers school to tutor Johann
Esterhazys daughters
in 1819-1820, wrote the celebrated Trout Quintet in a mass
in 1821, 20 of his most popular songs were published; he wrote
the three-act opera Alfonso und Estrella
1822, Unfinished Symphony and the Wanderer Fantasy
often ill during his last 5 years, but still continued his production
The Millers Beautiful Daughter and Winter Journey ; last
three piano sonatas; and the Great Symphony.
Died at 31, having produced more masterpieces by that age than
almost any other composer in history.
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Greatest 19
th
century composer of Oratorio
Rest primarily in outstanding choral technique with melody
of high quality, skilled instrumentation and great sense of
form.
One of the most significant developments of 19
th
century
is the accompanied art song developed in Germany
Piano instrument had better sonority over earlier
keyboards
accompaniment of pieces
-usually done on piano
-An important part of the composition
art song is often duet between the vocalist and
accompanist
Piano music - one of the most important developments of
19
th
century
Symphonic music -an extended musical work, usually
for orchestras
- various types: Symphony, Concerto,
Symphonic Poem, Symphonic Suite
and Concert Overture
Frederic Francois Chopin
Frederic Francois Chopin
French composer born on March 1, 1810 in Poland
He published his first composition at age 7
Began performing in aristocratic salons at 8.
In 1831, he moved to Paris and held his first concert the next year
a renowned piano teacher
contracted tuberculosis apparently, in the 1830s
In 1837, he began a 10 year liaison with George Sand
most significant composer in the history of piano
exhaustively exploited the instruments capacities for charm, excitement,
variety and timbral beauty
his innovations in fingering, use of pedals, and general treatment of the
keyboard were highly influential
reinvented the etude, using it to teach his own revolutionary style, like for
instance playing with the weak fingers
influenced by Hummels development of virtuoso, yet Mozartian, piano
technique
cited Bach and Mozart as the 2 most important composers in shaping his
musical outlook

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Born in the village of Doborjan, near Sopron, Hungary on October 22, 1811
Hungarian virtuoso pianist and composer
contributed to the Beethoven memorial fund
piano compositions such as Piano Sonata in b minor, and 2 piano concertos,
which have entered the standard repertoire
made many exuberant piano transciptions of operas, famous symphonies,
Paganini Caprices, Schubert Lieder
his piano compositions were one of the most technically challenging in the
repertoire
majority of his compositions reflect his advanced virtuosity
prolific composer and wrote works at several levels of difficulty
Abschied (Farewell) and Nuages Gris
his works have been recorded a multitude of times
Leslie Howard (Australian)- the only pianist who has recorded his entire
pianistic oeuvere
Richard Wagner(1813-1883)
achieved a fusion
of the arts in his
musical dramas
which showed a
distinct departure
in general concept,
style and form
from all other
operatic
productions
Characteristic of Musical Dramas

Fusion of the Arts. He conceived music drama as a work in which
music, poetry and stagecraft are fused to form a new dramatic whole.

Libretto. He wrote his own text for his dramas which were perfectly
conceived literary works. His fundamental sources are German
folklore, mythology and legend; romantic mysticism, the supernatural
and medieval.

Continuity. This is one of the most notable features of his music
drama, the contniuous melodic line and the constant use of the
orchestra which contribute to the overall aspect of continuity.

Leitmotif. The musical theme that he uses that connect thematic
ideas with a particular person, situation or mood.

Wagnerian Orchestra. His music drama has this dramatic effect for
the continuous flow of music.
Examples of his
musical drama
The Artwork of the Future (1850)
Opera and Drama (1851)
Tannhauser (1845)
Lohengrin (1845)
Tristan and Isolde (1859)
Parsifal (1882)
Der Ring de Nibelungen ( The Ring of Nibelung)
part 1: Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold) (1854)
part 2: Die Walkure (The Vlakyrie) (1856)
part 3: Siegfried (Young Siegfried) (1871)
part 4: Gotterdammerung (Twilight of the Gods or the Death of
Siegfried) (1874)
Review
1. English translation of Der Ring de Nibelungen
2. music drama as a work in which music,
poetry and stagecraft are fused to form a
new dramatic whole
5. earliest master of romantic art song
3. Greatest 19
th
century composer of Oratorio
4. musical theme that connects thematic
ideas with a particular person, situation or
mood
The Vlakyrie
The Ring of Nibelung
Fusion of the Arts
Franz Peter Schubert
Felix Mendelssohn
Leitmotif
Continuity
Symphonic music
Young Siegfried
Twilight of the Gods





7. English translation of Die Walkure
The Vlakyrie
The Ring of Nibelung
Fusion of the Arts
Franz Peter Schubert
Felix Mendelssohn
Leitmotif
Continuity
Symphonic music
Young Siegfried
Twilight of the Gods




6. one of the most notable features of his
music drama, the contniuous melodic line
and the constant use of the orchestra
8. English translation of Gotterdammerung
9. an extended musical work, usually for
orchestras
10. English translation of Siegfried