🎹Music History – 1750 to 1850 Unit 10 – Romanticism in Music (1800-1850)

What's Romanticism All About?

• Romanticism was an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe in the late 18th century
• Emphasized emotion, individualism, and freedom of expression over the restraints of Classicism
• Celebrated nature, the supernatural, and the exploration of the human psyche
• Sought to evoke strong feelings and passions in audiences through art, literature, and music
• Valued originality, creativity, and experimentation over adherence to traditional forms and rules
• Influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment and the social and political upheavals of the time (French Revolution, Industrial Revolution)
• Rejected the rationalism and order of the Enlightenment in favor of intuition, imagination, and subjectivity

Key Composers and Their Greatest Hits

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Symphony No. 9 "Choral", Piano Sonata No. 14 "Moonlight", Symphony No. 5
• Franz Schubert (1797-1828): "Erlkönig", "Ave Maria", Symphony No. 8 "Unfinished"
• Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849): Nocturnes, Preludes, Waltzes, Mazurkas
• Robert Schumann (1810-1856): "Carnaval", "Kinderszenen" (Scenes from Childhood), Piano Concerto in A minor
• Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): Overture to "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Violin Concerto in E minor, "Songs Without Words"
• Hector Berlioz (1803-1869): "Symphonie Fantastique", "Requiem", "Les Troyens" (The Trojans)
• Franz Liszt (1811-1886): "Liebesträume" (Dreams of Love), Hungarian Rhapsodies, Piano Concerto No. 1

Musical Innovations of the Romantic Era

• Expansion of the orchestra with new instruments (valved horns, trombones, tuba, piccolo, English horn, contrabassoon)
• Increased use of chromaticism, dissonance, and modulation to create emotional tension and release
• Development of the symphonic poem, a single-movement orchestral work that tells a story or depicts a scene
• Exploration of new forms such as the song cycle, character piece, and impromptu
• Greater emphasis on virtuosity and technical skill in performance, especially in piano and violin music
• Use of folk music and nationalistic elements to evoke a sense of cultural identity
• Experimentation with programmatic music, which seeks to convey a narrative or extra-musical idea

Romantic vs. Classical: Spot the Difference

• Romantic music is more expressive, emotional, and individualistic than Classical music
• Classical music emphasizes balance, clarity, and restraint, while Romantic music embraces passion, drama, and intensity
• Romantic composers often broke with traditional forms and structures in favor of freer, more organic compositions
• Romantic music features more complex harmonies, richer textures, and a wider range of dynamics than Classical music
• Classical music is generally more objective and universal in its appeal, while Romantic music is more subjective and personal
• Romantic composers drew inspiration from literature, art, nature, and the supernatural, while Classical composers focused on abstract musical ideas
• Romantic music often has a strong narrative or programmatic element, while Classical music is more abstract and absolute

Instruments and Orchestras: Bigger and Bolder

• The Romantic orchestra expanded in size and range, with new instruments added to the ensemble
  • Valved horns and trumpets allowed for greater chromatic possibilities and a wider range of notes
  • Trombones and tubas added weight and power to the brass section
  • Piccolo, English horn, and contrabassoon extended the range and color of the woodwinds
• String sections grew larger, with more violins, violas, cellos, and double basses for a richer, more powerful sound
• The piano became a central instrument in Romantic music, with composers exploiting its expressive and technical capabilities
  • Innovations in piano construction (iron frame, double escapement action) allowed for greater volume, sustain, and dynamic range
• Virtuoso soloists, such as Paganini and Liszt, pushed the boundaries of instrumental technique and inspired new levels of performance
• Orchestral music became more descriptive, colorful, and emotionally charged, with a greater emphasis on tone painting and atmosphere

Themes and Inspirations in Romantic Music

• Nature and the sublime: Romantic composers sought to capture the beauty, power, and mystery of the natural world in their music
• Love and passion: Many Romantic works explore the joys and sorrows of love, from tender intimacy to tragic heartbreak
• Folklore and mythology: Composers drew inspiration from ancient legends, fairy tales, and folk traditions to create evocative and imaginative works
• Exoticism and orientalism: Romantic composers were fascinated by the music and cultures of distant lands (Spain, Eastern Europe, Middle East) and incorporated these influences into their compositions
• Nationalism and patriotism: Composers celebrated their national heritage and identity through the use of folk melodies, dances, and stories in their music
• The supernatural and the macabre: Romantic composers explored the dark, mysterious, and otherworldly aspects of human experience, often drawing on Gothic literature and the occult
• The hero and the individual: Romantic music often celebrates the struggles and triumphs of exceptional individuals, from mythical heroes to real-life artists and revolutionaries

How Romanticism Changed Music Forever

• Romanticism liberated music from the constraints of Classical form and convention, allowing for greater freedom and experimentation
• The emphasis on emotion, expression, and individuality in Romantic music paved the way for the development of modern musical styles and aesthetics
• Romantic composers expanded the technical and expressive possibilities of instruments and the orchestra, pushing the boundaries of what was possible in music
• The Romantic focus on nationalism and folk traditions helped to establish distinct national musical styles and identities that continue to shape music today
• Romantic music's embrace of the subjective, the irrational, and the subconscious anticipated the psychological and symbolic dimensions of 20th-century music
• The Romantic ideal of the composer as a creative genius and visionary artist set the stage for the cult of personality in modern music
• Romantic music's integration of literature, art, and philosophy laid the groundwork for the interdisciplinary and multimedia approaches of contemporary music

Fun Facts and Quirky Stories

• Robert Schumann injured his hand with a mechanical device he invented to strengthen his fingers, ending his career as a pianist but leading him to focus on composition
• Niccolò Paganini was rumored to have made a pact with the devil to achieve his incredible violin technique, and his Caprice No. 24 was considered so difficult that it was dubbed the "Devil's Laughter"
• Hector Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique" features a musical depiction of a witches' sabbath, complete with demonic laughter and the dies irae chant from the Catholic Mass for the Dead
• Franz Liszt was known for his flamboyant performance style, which included playing the piano with his fists, elbows, and even a ruler, and for his legions of adoring female fans, who fought over his broken piano strings and discarded cigar butts
• Felix Mendelssohn's overture to "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was written when he was just 17 years old and remains one of the most popular and recognizable works of the Romantic era
• Frédéric Chopin's heart was preserved in alcohol and interred in a church in Warsaw, while the rest of his body was buried in Paris, in accordance with his dying wish
• Robert Schumann and his wife Clara were one of the most famous musical couples of the Romantic era, with Clara being a renowned pianist and composer in her own right, who premiered many of her husband's works and continued to perform and promote his music after his death