1. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Berlioz (1803-1869) One of 1 st French romantic composers Daring creator of new orchestral sounds Was sent to Paris to study medicine but quickly changed to music @ 23 became obsessed with Shakespeare and a Shakespearean actress His letters to her were wild and impassioned and convinced her he was lunatic and refused him

2. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Berlioz (1803-1869) Wrote Symphony Fantastique in 1830 Semi autobiographical program music of the weird and diabolical Listening Journal: Berlioz, Symphony Fantastique 4 th Movement

3. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Dvorak (1841-1904) Nationalist movement (composer of Czech music) Infused his symphonies and chamber music with Bohemian folk song and dance Left small hometown outside of Prague to study music at age 16 in Prague.

4. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Dvorak (1841-1904) Played in an opera orchestra for years until composition noticed by GERMAN master Brahms Toured the world and eventually settle in New York City as director of National Conservatory Continued to write in Czech style encouraged others to write in their own Nationalist style Listening Journal: Dvorak, Symphony No. 9 in E Minor 1 st Movement (Czech & American folk influence)

5. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Brahms (1833-1897) NeoClassical from Hamburg Germany Father made a precarious living as a bass player At 13 studied piano, theory, and composition by day Played dance music in cafes at night At 21 concert tour were he meet the Schumann’s who loved his music & hailed him as a musical messiah

6. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Brahms (1833-1897) Schumann hooked him up with publisher but soon after Robert had nervous breakdown and was commited Brahms stayed in Schumann house to help Clara with seven children Passed over for Hamburg Philharmonic conductor position and moves to Vienna

7. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Brahms (1833-1897) In Vienna resurrects forgot Bach, Handel, and Mozart pieces Lived rest of life very frugally Died at 64 of cancer Listening Journal : Brahms Symphony No. 3 3 rd Movement

8. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Puccini (1858-1924) One of Romantics best known composers of Opera Italian born, attended Milan University and studied composition 1 st Opera, shortly after graduation brought commission & annual income from Italy’s leading music publisher Was concerned with the theatrical aspects of his operas as much or more than the music

9. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Puccini (1858-1924) Known in the 1890 for VERISMO VERSIMO = realism or true to life operas Died before finishing his last Opera which was completed by a friend Listening Journal Puccini, La Boheme (1896) Opera set in poor Latin Quarter of Paris Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy & girl united as girl dies in boy’s arms of illness

10. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Wagner (1813-1883) Preeminent Germany composer of his time Had own theater built solely for his music performances Powerful Operas with a Big Sound (horns & Brass) Born Liepzig, Germany to theatrical family Wanted to be playwright but at 15 overwhelmed by Beethoven’s music Studied musical scores and composition but never mastered an instrument

11. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Wagner 1813-1883) At Leipzig University dueled, drank, gambled, & ran up debts he never repaid After school tried luck conducting in Paris but came back to Germany miserable Successful Operas and conducting back in Germany but continued to run up debts Wagner’s music genius was allied with selfishness, ruthlessness, Rabid GERMAN nationalism

12. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Wagner (1813-1883) Listening Journal : Wagner Die Walkure Act 1 (love scene conclusion) Part of WAGNER’s RING CYCLE Set of operas based in Noris legend which are his comment of 19 th century lust for money & power Includes LIETMOTIF music phrase, melody, sound,ect.. associated with different characters, scenes, ect..

13. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Debussy (1862-1918) French Impressionist who linked the 19 th and 20 th centuries From age 10 to 22 studied at Paris Conservatory were he was considered a “talented rebel” Influenced by trips to Russia and by Asian music performed at the Conservatory Also struck by ideas and music of Wagner who both attracted and repelled him

14. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Debussy (1862-1918) Lead unsettled life composing and teaching piano Not until 1902 was he recognized as a great French composer Impressionism in music stress on tone color, atmosphere, and fluidity and less on structural forms of past.

15. THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) Debussy (1862-1918) LISTENING JOURNAL : Debussy : Prelude to an afternoon of a faun Program Music illustrating a poem by Stephane Mallarme Poem evokes the dreams and fantasies of a pagan forest creature who is half man and half goat. Ballet has been written to this piece & are now often performed together