The Romantic Period ( ) Year 10 IGCSE

Period Characteristics  Stressed emotion, imagination, individuality  Freedom of __________________  Spontaneous and imaginative  The physical world  FOCUS: Working class and the poor

Characteristics of Romantic Music  Emotional intensity remains  Expressive, song like (from classical)  Greater range of _____, ______, _______  More unstable chords, more tension, less balance

Specific Characteristics Individuality of Style  Unique to personalities Expressive Subjects  Unpredictability, longing, Shakespeare subjects Nationalism  Musical EXOTICISM  Myths, legends Program Music  Association with a story or idea  Associated with literature

Musical Characteristics Tone Color  Rich, sensuous, mood, ___________  Orchestra had 100 musicians later  Brass, woodwind, percussion more active  Required more virtuosic techniques  _____________ –romantic favorite, now improved Harmony  New chords, chromatic harmony, dissonance, variety of keys, modulations

Musical Characteristics Cont’d Bigger Range  Bigger range: _______ and _______ used  Rubato and accelerations Miniatures and Monumental  Moods created from one melody and few chords  Also some gigantic words – Berlioz and Wagner  Compositions were longer and extended  Thematic transformations

Romantic Composers  Beethoven first to be free  Aristocrats couldn’t afford private opera houses  Composers poor, now write for middle class  Formations of philharmonics and conservatories  Private music making – piano at home  Less familiar support

The Art Song  Solo voice and piano, poetry and music  STROPHIC  THROUGH COMPOSED  SONG CYCLE

Detailed Look: Program Music  Instrumental music based on: poem, story  Ie. Symphony Fantastique – Berlioz  Suggest mood, sounds, exploits musical elements  ___________ is important  Usually: piano and orchestra

Romantic Music Forms  PROGRAM SYMPHONY –  CONCERT OVERTURE –  SYMPHONIC POEM/TONE POEM –  INCIDENTAL MUSIC –

Closer Look: Nationalism  19 th Century – homeland important  Fold songs, dances, original folk flavours  History, legends, landscapes

Russian Five  Nationalistic  Ancient church modes  Irregular meter (5 beats/bar)  RUSSIAN 5 – all have other occupations