ROMANTIC PERIOD

Characteristics This period was all about feelings in music. Music wasn’t always written about love but composers also expressed feelings of hate in their music. Earlier music written for the church or for entertainment. If this music happened to express feelings as well, then all the better Romantic composers were not too concerned with entertaining the public or in the church. They wrote music to express their feelings. The audience was left to take it or leave it They still performed in large music halls with an orchestra but many composers played in public and for their loved ones. It was all about expression

What did it sound like? The tunes get longer and stronger. They combined very loud and very quiet moments within the piece The mood of the song changes throughout The orchestras get bigger. The music goes on for a longer time. There are a lots of symphonies, sonatas, and concertos. There is also symphonic poems. There were no longer any rules, so composers were completely free in this period to express themselves through their music What instruments did they use? Woodwind instruments like the contrabassoon, bass clarinet and piccolo began to appear in the orchestra the percussion section grew in size with the addition of xylophones, drums, celestes, harps, bells, and triangles The orchestra during this period grew much larger

TWENTIETH CENTURY MUSIC

Times are Changing The climate of the 20 th century saw a large shift in music. The social climate of the period placed music in the background as the world encountered some serious events. World War One from and World War Two , help change the climate and style of music all around the world People were also becoming more educated in psychology and becoming aware of the world around them This helped bring about experimental, bold and new music that was original

What did it sound like? Music from this period varied. Musicians would play for small crowds in little venues or large concert halls. Records were sold and people were able to purchase and take home the music they would fall in love with Radio emerged and musicians would soon take over the wave-lengths, transforming popular music Music also was brought through small dramatic shows called musicals where costumes and performers would put on a show for the audience to music Especially during the war years, music was used as a way of forgetting and escaping After WWII, music sees a shift once again to political music as a result of the climate

1940s-60s This period was influential in music because it saw the rise of homegrown musicians. Jazz and blues becomes popular as a result of southern U.S and the Civil Rights Movement. Music used music to further their political agenda but also to express their frustrations with the environment of the time Jazz musicians often composed music that reflected their struggle and distaste for the government, while popular music and rock promoted anarchy and rebellion Rise of the boy band emerges with bands such as The Beatles.

Women in Music The rise of women musicians rose during this period Not only were women singing and performing they were also writing, recording and producing music Women became much more independent in the twentieth century and their music reflected it Singers such as Madonna and Joan Jett and Cher emerged and changed the landscape of music