The Romantic Period
1825 - 1910
Social and Political Influences
Industrialism
First occurred in Britain
Power shifted from
aristocratic landowners
to middle class city
dwellers
Populations moved
from an agrarian (rural)
center to an urban
center
What does the term Romantic mean?
The Romantic movement in music coincides with a
general Romantic movement in all arts.
At this period, the arts of literature and painting began
to influence music.
In the Romantic era, music acquired poetic or
philosophical meaning.
Antiquity, folklore, history and exotic cultures were
examined as possible sources of inspiration.
Characteristics of the Romantic Period
Music is not as reliant on repetition as in Classical
music
The music often directly tells a story
Exploration of tone colors
Much bigger orchestras
Popularity of chamber music
Music is highly emotional
Poetry and music are intimately fused
Musical Innovations
Invention of the song cycle
Invention of the symphonic poem
Great works written for solo piano
Composers stretched the listeners ear by creating a
great deal of dissonance using chromatic notes, and
extensions of the triad.
Composers began to drift away from the strong sense
of tonality heard in Classical music.
Founding of conservatories
Composers
Composers gradually left the patronage system and became free
agents of their own works.
This meant that the composer, their music and their livelihood
depended on the public’s approval.
For the first time, a composer’s work might not be publicly
performed during his or her lifetime.
Romantics saw themselves as outsiders, isolated from
mainstream society, struggling to express their creative ideas.
In general, composers held higher social status than in the
Classical period.
Performer
Rise of virtuosic performers
the public was captured by virtuosity and
showmanship
Conductor
Resulted from the orchestras
growth in numbers and
complexity
Became necessary to have
one person to lead and
control the orchestra
General Musical Characteristics
Individuality
Expressive Aims and Subjects
Nationalism and Exoticism
Rise and Importance of Program Music
Musical Elements
Melody
Age of lyricism – unending melody
Melodies appealed to the emotions
Phrases tended to be longer and irregular in length
Themes were more complex and utilized
chromaticism
Advent of theme transformation (Berlioz, Wagner)
Harmony
Basically tonal
By end of the 19th century chromaticism
(movement by half steps) stretched tonality
to the breaking point
Chromaticism imbued greater dissonance and
tension into the sound
Rhythm
Rhythmic effects were used for “color” – rubato
Articulations in the instruments tended to be
heavy and intense
A new vocabulary of music terms arose that
indicated how to achieve the composer’s
desired sound – cantabile, dolce, con amore,
allegro agitato. These designations produced a
more emotional sound and response.
Texture
Essentially homophonic
Tended to be thick, heavy and lush
Dynamics
Gradual
Much wider range – extremes of
dynamic variation
Used extensively throughout the
compositions
Timbre/Instrumentation
This period saw a full exploration of the instrumental families.
Instruments were used for both their individual and collective
color potential.
Instrumental timbre was used to convey mood and atmosphere.
The orchestra became much larger – from 70 players to more
than 100 (resulting in the necessity of a conductor).
Instruments could play louder and carry farther.
Instruments were capable of major changes in dynamics.
Strings
String sections increased in
size and were given more
difficult accompaniment parts
(scales, arpeggios)
Woodwinds
Development of new instruments
saxophone (baritone and tuba) were invented by
Adolf Sax
piccolo, bass clarinet and English horn were
added.
Important improvements in wind instruments
“Boehm system” of fingering for flutes and
clarinets achieved better facility and intonation
for the performer and greater musical range
Brass
Addition of valves and improvement to valves on
brass instruments allowed the playing of a full
chromatic compass for the first time and to more
easily play quick runs of notes
Tubas and Trombones were added
Percussion
Expanded to include bass drum, snare drum,
cymbals and other exotic percussion
instruments (gong, castanets)
Ludwig Von Beethoven
Crucial figure in the transition from Classical to
Romantic
The Romantic period really began around
1815. Works from this period are
characterized by their intellectual depth, their
formal innovations, and their intense, highly-
personal expression.
Period Instruments
Tuba
Alto, Bass, Contrabass Clarinet
Contrabassoon
Euphonium
Alto, Tenor, Baritone Saxophone
Alto Flute
Opera
Very popular during the Romantic era.
Composers focused on melodies and themes.
Huge interest in songs written as part of a cycle:
a complete story told with related songs.
