The Romantic period 1810-1900

What’s different? Pre-exisiting forms (concerto/symphony/opera etc) were further developed. Many composers turned to Literature & poetry for stimulus. The size of the orchestra continued to grow. New genres emerged – Lieder, Programme music and Symphonic Poem The main composers were not necessarily German, Austrian or Italian!

Rachmaninov Some of the Composers Schubert German – Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Strauss, Mendelssohn, Wagner Italian – Verdi, Donizetti, Rossini Russian- Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich Austrian – Mahler, Bruckner French – Berlioz, Bizet Polish – Chopin Of course, there are many more… Chopin Tchaikovsky

Listening task In pairs, choose a composer from the previous slide. Make sure no-one else in the class is looking at the same one. Investigate the famous pieces they have composed and choose 1 to listen to. You should identify the most prominent concepts which are present in the music. As you listen, identify at least two concepts from each of the following headings. Melody/Harmony Texture Timbre

  Melody/Harmony Texture Timbre

Rise of the Virtuoso Music was often very difficult to play Composers broke away from conventional forms.

Rise of the Virtuoso Listen to this piece by Paganini and identify the concepts being used. Choose 4 from those listed below. Arco Double Stopping Glissando Harmonics Rondo Form Theme Tremolando Variation Arco Double Stopping Glissando Harmonics Rondo Form Theme Tremolando Variation

Rachamaninoff : Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini for Piano and Orchestra The piece you have just listened to was composed by Paganini as a set of pieces for Solo Violin. This is one of the 24 that Paganini wrote for solo violin. Rachmaninoff decided to use Paganini’s 24th Caprice and write a Theme and Variations based on this for solo piano and orchestra.

Using Musicworks with the RSAMD dvd discover Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Once you have a better understanding of the work complete the activity on the next slide.

Rachmaninov’s legendary Variation 18 is a rare example of academic process producing truly amazing music. The music is so natural and expressive; it is amazing to think that it was crafted out of Paganini’s mechanical 24th Violin Caprice.   This creative exercise will enable you to experiment with the principal musical concept explored in Variation 18 – INVERSION and of course VARIATION. It will involve taking a well-known melody and using as the basis of new composition. This activity will be more fun if everyone works independently – in secret.

Can you compose upside down?   The challenge is to take a well-known melody and disguise it as a brand new tune. You have complete freedom to choose any melody you wish. However, you must be able to notate (at least the pitches of) the original melody to successfully begin this exercise.   Write the melody on manuscript paper or use Sibelius, MuseScore or Notion.  Now, turn the manuscript upside down. Try playing the inverted melody. Start at the bottom right of the page and play it backwards. Try and transform the curious selection of notes into a well-structured and natural flowing melody.

Some points to explore: adding or removing accidentals altering the meter of the music keeping the original rhythms or creating a brand-new rhythmical outline identifying phrases within the music when to cheat! As a last resort, you may alter the melody to improve the overall sound and quality of the music.

The Piano More solo works written Composers wrote smaller pieces like ballades, polonaises, mazurkas & Etudes.

The Piano Important contributors were: Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, Schubert and Schumann. Listen and follow the score of this Etude by Chopin before answering these questions. What is the key of the piece? What is the opening chord? What is strange about this? This piece is a Study. Which area of piano technique do you think Chopin is developing with this particular work. Why could this not be played stylistically on harpsichord?

Piano Literacy Question Now listen to Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu and follow the score Answer the literacy questions.

Romantic Songs Lieder was a popular song form. The structure of a Lider was either strophic or through –composed.

Song Structure - Strophic A song where the melody of each verse is the same. Most hymns are strophic. Listen to this popular Hymn – All People That on Earth Do Well Now listen to this piece by Johnny Cash – Walk the Line, which is in strophic form.

Through-composed A song structure where the melody of each verse has a different tune. Listen to this famous example of a through-composed song Bohemian Rhapsody Now listen to a different song Roy Orbison – In Dreams As you listen to this song, complete the question.

Lieder Listen to ‘der erlkonig’ and answer the questions opposite 1. What language do you hear? 2. Is it strophic or through-composed? 3. Is the piano purely accompanying?

Lieder: Key Characteristics German text, usually poetry. A collection of lied (or album) is called a song-cycle. Schubert and Schumann wrote the most famous examples. Structure is strophic or through-composed. Piano part is of equal importance to vocal part.

More Lieder Listen to 2 more examples of lieder and follow the score. For each piece identify if it is strophic or through-composed. Your teacher will also highlight concepts found in the music. Piece 1 Audio Score on page 11/55 Piece 2 Score on page 34/55

Lieder Worksheet Now complete the worksheet

Chamber Music Composers continued to develop String Quartets. Piano Trios and Quintets were increasingly common. Using the iPad, open Notion and select Serenade for Strings by Tchaikovsky. Listen to the piece and answer the questions on the attached sheet.

Danse Macabre (for extra literacy practice) Brief Synopsis Questions Music video