Chapter 15 Prelude: Music after Beethoven: Romanticism Style Features of Romantic Music
Key Terms Rubato Romantic melody Chromaticism Romantic orchestra Instrumental combinations
Style Features of Romantic Music Music had to mirror inner feeling Artists were expected to have a personal style Important to sound different from others Constant striving for higher experience Innovation became essential Hard to define Romantic style in general Easier to spot innovations & novelties There were some common interests In rhythm, melody, harmony, color, & form
Rhythm: Rubato Italian tempo rubato = robbed time
Romantic Melody (1) The most recognizable Romantic feature More emotional than before
Romantic Harmony Major advances in the area of harmony Chromaticism used to expand expressivity
The Expansion of Tone Color (1) Sheer sensuous quality of sound assumed importance for the first time Major advances in instrument design Romantic fascination with the orchestra
The Expansion of Tone Color (2) Orchestra grew to modern size & makeup
The Expansion of Tone Color (3) Composers mixed instrumental colors with great freedom & virtuosity Orchestral effects became more elaborate Opera composers used orchestral effects that nearly overwhelmed the singers