Romantic Music

The Enlightenment The Age of Enlightenment began in the mid 1600’s Not a deliberate movement but a collection of scientific and philosophical discoveries that gradually changed the way we understood the world around us This challenged many existing theories – scientific discovery directly contradicted many religious doctrines Reason and Rationalism, rather than Religion, became the primary sources for decisions and understanding This laid the foundation for many of the values that defined the Classical era – Order, Hierarchy, Symmetry and Simplicity

As the Classical era progressed there were significant events that challenged these new ideals: – The American Independence of 1775 and The French Revolution of 1789 created the first Republic states and initiated the end for the established Aristocratic and Feudal societies of Europe. These were to be replaced by the modern democracies – The following Napoleonic Wars of 1804 – 1815 saw wars across Europe which killed many people and started the decline for many of the Old Empires – Urbanization: Because of the Industrial Revolution less people were needed to farm the land and so many people moved to cities to find work in the new factories. Often living in crowded and filthy slums this lead to huge sanitation and health problems and outbreaks of diseases such as cholera The new world was not the one of order and reason that many in the upper classes had imagined

The Arts, previously dependant on the rich and powerful, were finding a new audience in the rapidly emerging middle classes In an attempt to escape the new realities of “modern” life, Romantic artists shunned the Order and Symmetry of the Classical era Instead they explored new subjects such as: – Nature and the Sublime – The Exotic (the recently discovered Far East) – Intense human emotions such as Love, Grief, Joy, Death and Beauty – Mysticism, Myths and Legends – The ideals of Hero and Heroine In exploring these new ideas Art, Literature and Music became more contrasting and dramatic than ever before

Caspar David Friedrich - The Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, 1818

Thomas Cole - Voyage of Life, Youth, 1840

The Romantic Orchestra Classical Orchestras had 30 – 40 players Romantic Orchestras had 70 – 120 players The Industrial Revolution meant new instruments were being invented – The Piano was given a metal frame. This meant it could have more, tighter strings and be louder, more versatile, and be heard over much larger ensembles – Wound metal strings were developed to give other string instruments greater color and strength

The Romantic Orchestra The Classical Orchestra might include:  Woodwind  2 Flutes  2 Oboes  2 Clarinets in B-flat,  2 Bassons  Brass  2 or 4 Horns(in any key)  2 Trumpets (in any key)  Percussion  Timpani  Strings  8 First Violins  8 Second Violins  6 Violas  4 Cellos  3 Double Basses The Romantic Orchestra might include:  Woodwinds  Piccolo  4 Flutes  4 Oboes  Cor Anglais  Clarinets in E-Flat  4 Clarinets in B-flat,  Bass Clarinet  4 Bassoons  Contrabassoon  Brass  8 Horns in F  5 Trumpets in C, B- flat, F  4 Trombones (3 Tenor, Bass)  Tuba  Percussion  2 Timpani  Snare Drum  Bass Drum  Cymbals  Tam-Tam  Triangle  Tambourine  Glockenspiel  Xylophone  Chimes  Keyboards  Piano  Strings  16 first Violins  16 second Violins  12 Violas  12 Cellos  10 Double Basses  2 Harps

Features of Romantic Music New Structures – Symphony and Opera – both extended to new, epic lengths – Program Music – Piano Concerto – Prelude Pieces express a WIDE RANGE of FEELINGS and EMOTIONS MELODIES become LONGER, less structured and more developed MODULATIONS become more frequent and to more UNUSUAL KEYS More extravagant, EXTENDED and DISSONANT CHORDS are used

The HARMONY is often CHROMATIC and DISCORDANT, especially when portraying strong emotions INSTRUMENTS are used in EXTREME RANGES and parts become more difficult and technical – leads to a return of the VIRTUOSO performer ORCHESTRAS become significantly bigger and more powerful. They especially have much bigger BRASS sections DYNAMICS are used in extremes and often with sudden changes. ACCENTS and SFORZANDOS are used to make the music more dramatic TEMPO becomes less rigid and often changes within works. RUBATO is used to give a piece more expression The importance of NATIONAL IDENTITY is expressed through the use of FOLK TUNES and DANCE RHYTHMS

Famous Works Wagner Gotterdammerung from The RingGotterdammerung from The Ring Dvorak New World Symphony 4th MovementNew World Symphony 4th Movement Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2 1st MovementPiano Concerto No.2 1st Movement Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 Berlioz Symphony FantastiqueSymphony Fantastique