1. The Age of Romanticism
Days of Dramatic Expression

2. The Age of Romanticism
Days of Dramatic Expression

8. Romantic Period c c. 1900
Value on freedom of individual expression over adherence to formalized practices or “rules.”
Importance of emotional expression became paramount.
Programmatic music became important as composers explored more precise and pictoral musical communication of ideas.

9. Programmatic Music
Intended to communicate a story, picture, character and/or idea.
Usually dependent on some special device for establishing imagery.

10. Felix Mendelssohn Feb. 3, 1809 – Nov. 4, 1847
Born in Hamburg, Germany. Died in Leipzig, Germany. Early German Romantic composer.
Composed programmatic music depicting natural forces, such as his Hebrides Overture (Scottish Hebrides Islands).
Also composed music depicting other cultures (Scotch and Italian Symphonies).

11. Felix Mendelssohn Feb. 3, 1809 – Nov. 4, 1847
Listening: “Wedding March” from Overture to a Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Ex: programmatic music

12. Frederic Chopin
Born in Zelazowa Wola, Poland (near Warsaw) March 1, Died in Paris, October 17, 1849.
Studied first at Warsaw Conservatory in Poland, then moved to Vienna, and finally to Paris, where he lived until his death at age 39.
Virtuoso pianist who composed almost exclusively for piano.

13. Virtuoso
Extremely skilled artist, especially as describes performance (musicians).

14. Frederic Chopin
Listening: March Funebre.
Ex: programmaticism.

15. Frederic Chopin
Listening: March Funebre.
Example of: programmaticism.

16. Hector Berlioz
Born: La Côte-Saint-André, Isère, December 11, Died: Paris, March 8, 1869.
French Romantic composer.
Perhaps the only great composer to never learn an instrument.
Best known for contributions to orchestration (employment of instruments).

17. Hector Berlioz

18. Hector Berlioz
Listening: “Dream of a Witches Sabbath” from Symphonie Fantastique.
Ex: Program Symphony, idee fixe. (See BerliozSymFantprogram.rtf)
Idee fixe- Berlioz’ term for connecting a particular musical motive to a character or idea, as in his Symphonie Fantastique.

19. Johannes Brahms
Born: Hamburg, May 7, Died: Vienna, April 3, 1897.
Supported in youth by performance in bars and brothels.
Later German Romantic composer important for “neoclassic” reforms (return to earlier Romantic traditions).

20. Johannes Brahms
Listening: Wiegenlied. Ex: programmaticism.

21. Modest Mussorgsky
Born: Karevo, Pskov District, Russia, March 21, Died: St. Petersburg, Mar ch 28, 1881.
One of the Russian Five responsible for initiation of the “Nationalist Movement.”
Not highly regarded in his day, but his works have remained popular longer than some of his more famous contemporaries.

22. Modest Mussorgsky

23. Modest Mussorgsky
Important works include Pictures at an Exhibition, opera Boris Godunov, and A Night on Bald Mountain.
Listening: A Night on Bald Mountain. Example of: Tone Poem (programmatic).

24. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Born: Votkinsk, Viatka District, Russia, May 7, Died: St. Petersburg, Nov. 6, 1893.
Studied for a legal career and served as clerk for several years before resignation and enrollment in St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1863.
Work largely comprised of programmatic music.

25. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

26. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Especially noted for work in the ballet (Swan Lake, 1877; The Nutcracker, 1892), his symphonies (No. 4,5, and 6), and “overtures” such as Romeo and Juliet and 1812.
Listening: Overture. Ex: Tone Poem, programmaticism.

27. Richard Wagner
Born: Leipzig, May 22, Died: Venice, Feb. 13, 1883.
Important for work in German “Music Drama” (opera), for which he employed stories from Nordic legend.
Music is particularly dramatic, employing the “leitmotif” for depiction of characters similar to Berlioz’ idee fixe.

28. Richard Wagner

29. Richard Wagner
Leitmotif- small musical passage connected with a particular character or idea in Wagner’s “music dramas.”
Listening: “Siegfried’s Funeral Music” from Gotterdammerung (Twilight of the Gods).

30. The Age of Romanticism
Days of Dramatic Expression