Romantic Music

How do you know which music is from the romantic period??

Types of instrumental music Program music: an instrumental music associated with a story, poem (created during this period) . Absolute Music: It is instrumental music written for its own sake Program Symphony: An instrumental composition in several movements based to some extent on a literary or pictorial idea.

Types of instrumental music Symphonic Poem: a one-movement orchestral piece based to some extent on a literary or pictorial idea. (developed by Franz Liszt). Incidental Music: Music intended to be performed before and during a play to set the mood for scenes or highlight dramatic action.

Most Popular Types of Instruments Piano: Technology was improved Cast iron frame was invented to hold strings under more tension The hammers were padded with felt The damper pedal was invented

Most Popular Types of Instruments Orchestra: Larger and had more tones then in classical time period Also grew in number of members, towards the end it was close to 100 musicians

Musical elements Uses a lot of different keys, and changes between them throughout the whole piece of music Used chromatic harmony more frequently Unique emphases on individual style You could easy tell which composer wrote the piece within seconds of listening because they each had there own individual style

Common Techniques Used Emphasized emotions Didn’t use “by the books” form Used contrasting dynamics from pppp to ffff The notes ranged from extremely low to extremely high Happened because of the wider range of instruments Used dramatic changes in tempo (acc. or rit.) Used Rubato to make sections more dramatic Lengthen some notes and shorting others

Romantic composers

Ludwig van Beethoven Born December 16, 1770 in Bonn, Germany Regarded by many as the first Romantic composer, famous for his nine symphonies, thirty-two piano sonatas, sixteen string quartets Father: weak-spirited- drank excessively- recognized Beethoven’s talent but disappointed when failed to emulate Mozart as child prodigy Considered a late-bloomer in terms of a child prodigy- did not begin his debut until the age of eight Through positions as assistant organist, he obtained his first composition lessons and by age 17, he went to Vienna to study under Mozart. After Mozart’s death, he was introduced to Joseph Haydn in late 1790, and began studying with him.

Beethoven’s Music He was messy, rude, egotistical, unconventional with the times and not accepted by polite society 1795: publication of the first of his compositions: the piano trios of Opus 1. 1798: tackled the string quartet and the symphony. He composed the second through eight symphonies third symphony, nicknamed Eroica: famous span of attention-grabbing The famous Rasumovsky String Quartets were conducted during this time- considered part of the most difficult music in the string quartet. Music was revolutionary, and not only in technique. Beethoven's expanded forms broadened the scope for emotional expression, giving voice to the revolutionary spirit of the age. “I despise a world which does not feel that music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.”

Music continued… Began to go deaf but music becomes deep, rich and very dimensional. No longer was there composing under previous bounds of the classical era, but rather he was composing with disregard for what had been thought the limitations of the performer or the liking of the audience. He was composing for himself and the ages. The final quartets which completed the sixteen entourage of chamber music along with the 32 piano sonatas was a glimpse of Beethoven's true composition brilliance. He spent all of 1818 composing the Hammerklavier Sonata which was nearly an hour long. His ability to build large-scale musical structures that lasted for hours was among the rarest gifts that the world has ever seen. Died from lead poisoning March 26th, 1827, at the age of 56, and despite all his rudeness and indifference for polite society, thirty-thousand people still attended his funeral.

Hector Berlioz Born December 11, 1803 in France Age 13- started his musical education, taking lessons in guitar, flute, and singing- never studied the piano as a child 1821: enrolled in the Conservatoire under Jean- François le Sueur in Paris won the Prix de Rome (scholarship for arts students) by La mort de Cléopâtre, or the Death of Cleopatra- reveals fantastic compositional imagination. During 1829-1830- wrote his most famous piece Symphonie Fantastique tells the story of "an artist gifted with a lively imagination" who has "poisoned himself with opium" in the "depths of despair" because of "hopeless love.” Composed the overtures to King Lear (tragedy by William Shakespeare) and Rob Roy and began work on a sequel to Symphonie fantastique, Lélio in 1855.

Hector’s Music Between 1830 and 1840: wrote many of his most popular and enduring works.Harold en Italie (1834), the Grande messe des morts (1837) and Roméo et Juliette (1839). 1844, Berlioz's highly influential book, Treatise on Instrumentation was published for the first time- detailed aspects of conducting La damnation de Faust (English: The Damnation of Faust) is a work for orchestra, voices, and chorus “Beethoven opened before me a new world of music, as Shakespeare had revealed a new universe of poetry”

Hector’s Music Composed the overtures to King Lear (tragedy by William Shakespeare) and Rob Roy and began work on a sequel to the Symphonie fantastique renamed Lélio in 1855. His work as a conductor was highly influential and brought him fame across Europe Initially began conducting due to frustrations over the inability of other conductors but his expert understanding of the way the sound of each instrument interacts with each other made him one of the best of his time Died on March 8, 1869

Felix Mendelssohn He was born as Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in Hamburg, Germany on February 3rd, 1809. Lived an extremely short life, dying on November 4, 1847 in Leipzig, Germany. Parents were Abraham Mendelssohn and Lea Salomon. Regarded as a child prodigy, taking piano from the age of four. Began composing Operas at age nine.

Felix Mendelssohn Wrote twelve string symphonies between ages of 12 and 14. Wrote the Overture to a Midsummer Night's Dream when he was 16, which is one of his most famous pieces. Spoke German, English, Italian, and Latin. Had poor health towards the end of his life, suffering from fits and rages.

Hugo Wolf Born in Windishgratz, Austria, on March 13, 1860 and spent most of his life in Vienna. His name at birth was Hugo Filipp Jakob Wolf. He contracted Syphilis by age 18, which would later go on to kill him. Played the violin, piano, and organ from an early age.

Hugo Wolf Published 245 songs, 44 in Spanish. Began to shine as an artist and composer in the late 1880’s, especially in 1888 when he wrote songs that matched Schubert and Schuman in variance and flow. Tried to down himself, and was admitted to an asylum with his consent. Greatest musical influence was Richard Wagner, who encouraged him. Famous for use of tonality to reinforce meaning, tonality being the use of concentrating on two tonal areas to depict conflict.

Classical Music vs. Romantic Music

Similarities Significance Form Chamber music Harmony & Melody Romantics appreciated Classical form Chamber music Harmony & Melody Ludwig Van Beethoven His early compositions were Classical style, while his later ones were considered Romantic

Composers Classical Era Composers Romantic Era Composers Mozart & Haydn Romantic Era Composers Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Schubert, Chopin, Wagner, Strauss, Verdi, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Puccini, Mahler, & Beethoven

Classical Music is formed… Sometimes, a new style of music is formed when composers ‘reject’ the old style… This happened with classical composers, they wanted to get away from Baroque style music and invent something different

Romantic Music is formed… Romantic composers did not reject Classical music They continued to write symphonies, concertos, sonatas, and operas Kept “rules” of rhythm, melody, harmony, harmonic progression, and tuning

What is the difference? The attitude towards the “rules” Classical: composers were interested in providing an easily-audible (capable of being heard) structure for the music Reflected artistic & intellectual ideas of its time Provided order & boundaries Music was seen as an abstract art & universal Music can be happy/sad but the emotions stay within “boundaries”

What is the difference? Romantic: Did not feel constrained by form Personal sufferings could be reflected in music Music was not just happy/sad. it could be joyous, terrified, filled with deep longings, etc. Tried to use music the describe specific places, people & ideas

What is the difference? Classical- balance, control, proportion, symmetry, and restraint Romantic-new, curious, and adventurous Classical- order, equilibrium, and perfection with limits Romantic-cherishes freedom of expression, movement, passion and imagination (Dorak)

Romantic Music Composers could not compose from the heart They could now follow their own direction and could please themselves More lyrical/programmatic than the dramatic music of Classical Era Long sections of composition may continue as one unbroken rhythmic pattern

Works Cited Brhel, John. “Similarities Between Classical and Romantic Music Styles.” eHow: how to do just about everything. eHow, 2010. Web. 22 Mar. 2010. <http://www.ehow.com/‌facts_5900603_similarities-classical-romantic-music-styles.html>. “Classical Music Periods.” My Files. N.p., 2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2010. <http://www.mfiles.co.uk/‌classical-periods.htm>. Dorak, M. Tevfik. “Romantic (Period) Music.” M.Tevfik Dorak’s Website. M.Tevfik Dorak B.A., 5 Apr. 2008. Web. 30 Mar. 2010. <http://www.members.tripod.com/‌~dorakmt/‌music/‌romantic.html>. Schmidt-Jones, Catherine. “The Music of The Romantic Era.” Connections. Creative Commons Attribution License, 19 Sept. 2008. Web. 22 Mar. 2010. <http://cnx.org/‌content/‌m11606/‌latest/>.