10.2 Characteristics of Romantic music

Romantic music emerged as a powerful artistic movement, emphasizing emotion and individuality. Composers expanded musical forms, embraced rich harmonies, and crafted expressive melodies to convey deep feelings and personal experiences.

The Romantic era saw the rise of program music, virtuosic performances, and nationalist elements. These innovations allowed composers to tell stories, showcase technical prowess, and celebrate cultural heritage through their music.

Defining Features of Romantic Music

Expanded Forms and Musical Development

Top images from around the web for Expanded Forms and Musical Development

• 

  More Notes, Expression & Tuplets – Sight-Reading for Guitar View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Form in Music ‹ OpenCurriculum View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  La Música es Ritmo La Academia de Música Online View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  More Notes, Expression & Tuplets – Sight-Reading for Guitar View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Form in Music ‹ OpenCurriculum View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Expanded Forms and Musical Development

• 

  More Notes, Expression & Tuplets – Sight-Reading for Guitar View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Form in Music ‹ OpenCurriculum View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  La Música es Ritmo La Academia de Música Online View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  More Notes, Expression & Tuplets – Sight-Reading for Guitar View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Form in Music ‹ OpenCurriculum View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Romantic music often featured expanded forms (symphonic poem, song cycle) allowing for greater musical development and expression
• Composers favored the use of the minor mode and explored a wider range of keys, contributing to the emotional depth and variety of their compositions
• The use of rubato, or the flexibility of tempo for expressive purposes, became more prevalent in Romantic music performance

Rich Harmonies and Expressive Melodies

• Composers of the Romantic era employed rich, chromatic harmonies
  • Use of extended chords, modulations to distant keys, and innovative chord progressions
• Expressive melodies were a hallmark of Romantic music, reflecting the emotional intensity of the period
  • Wide leaps, chromaticism, and a greater range
  • Conveyed a sense of longing, passion, and individualism (Schubert's "Erlkönig", Chopin's Nocturnes)

Program Music and Extra-musical Elements

Depicting Stories and Ideas through Instrumental Music

• Program music, which seeks to depict a story, scene, or idea through instrumental music, gained prominence during the Romantic era
• Composers drew inspiration from literature, poetry, and visual arts, creating musical works that aimed to evoke specific emotions or narratives (Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique", Liszt's "Mazeppa")
• The use of descriptive titles (Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition", Smetana's "Má Vlast") helped guide the listener's imagination and interpretation of the music

Musical Devices and Extra-musical Elements

• Composers employed various musical devices to enhance the programmatic nature of their works
  • Leitmotifs: recurring musical themes associated with a specific character, idea, or place (Wagner's operas)
  • Tone painting: musical depiction of natural phenomena, emotions, or actions (thunderstorms, birdsong, love, death)
• Incorporation of extra-musical elements further contributed to the narrative and expressive qualities of Romantic program music
  • Spoken text, visual displays, or specific instruments (Berlioz's use of the idée fixe in "Symphonie Fantastique")

Virtuosity and Technical Innovation in Performance

The Rise of the Virtuoso Performer

• The Romantic era witnessed a surge in virtuosic performance, with composers and performers pushing the boundaries of technical skill and expressive power
• Instrumental virtuosity, particularly on the piano and violin, became a central feature of Romantic music (Liszt, Paganini)
• The cult of the virtuoso emerged, with performers achieving celebrity status and captivating audiences with their technical prowess and charismatic stage presence

Advances in Instrument Design and Composition

• Advances in instrument design and construction enabled greater technical possibilities and expanded the range of musical expression
  • Development of the modern piano, use of new materials for wind and string instruments
• Composers wrote works specifically to showcase the virtuosic abilities of performers
  • Concertos and solo pieces that demanded exceptional skill and musicality (Chopin's piano concertos, Paganini's Caprices for solo violin)

Folk and Nationalist Elements in Romantic Music

Drawing Inspiration from Cultural Traditions

• Romantic composers drew inspiration from the folk music and cultural traditions of their native countries, incorporating these elements into their compositions as a means of expressing national identity
• The use of folk melodies, rhythms, and dance forms became a way for composers to evoke a sense of place and connect with their cultural heritage (Chopin's Mazurkas, Brahms' Hungarian Dances)
• Incorporation of folk instruments added local color and authenticity to Romantic compositions (Hungarian cimbalom, Spanish guitar)

The Rise of Nationalist Music Schools

• Nationalist composers sought to create a distinct musical language that reflected the unique character and spirit of their respective nations
  • Chopin (Poland), Grieg (Norway), Dvořák (Bohemia)
• Composers used programmatic titles or references to national legends, landscapes, or historical events to emphasize the nationalist character of their music (Smetana's "Má Vlast", Grieg's "Peer Gynt")
• The rise of nationalist music schools contributed to the development of distinct musical styles and the promotion of cultural pride and identity
  • Russian "Mighty Handful" (Balakirev, Cui, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin)
  • Bohemian composers (Smetana, Dvořák)