The Romantic period in Western music history lasted from 1820 to 1900. It was a reaction against Enlightenment ideals and the rise of industrialization, emphasizing emotion, nature, nationalism and individualism. Key characteristics included expanded orchestras, more expressive harmonies and forms like program music. Major composers included Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Liszt, Wagner, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Mahler. Their works featured more dramatic moods and virtuosic soloists. This period represented the height of orchestral and piano music.
2. Periods of Western Musical History
1. Medieval (476 A.D. to 1400 A.D.)
2. Renaissance (1400 to 1600 A.D.)
3. Baroque (1600 to 1750)
4. Classical (1750 to 1820)
5. Romantic (1820 to 1900)
6. Impressionist (1875 to 1925)
7. Modern (1900 to 1960)
8. “Post-Modern” (1960-present)
(aka “Contemporary”)
3. Periods of Western Musical History
1. Medieval (476 A.D. to 1400 A.D.)
2. Renaissance (1400 to 1600 A.D.)
3. Baroque (1600 to 1750)
4. Classical (1750 to 1820)
5. Romantic (1820 to 1900)
6. Impressionist (1875 to 1925)
7. Modern (1900 to 1960)
8. “Post-Modern” (1960-present)
(aka “Contemporary”)
4. Romanticism (also known as the Romantic
Era or the "Romantic Period') was an
artistic, literary and intellectual movement
that originated in the second half of the 18th
century in Europe, and gained strength in
reaction to the Industrial Revolution. In part,
it was a revolt against aristocratic social and
political norms of the Age of Enlightenment
and a reaction against the scientific
rationalization of nature. Romanticism was
embodied most strongly in the visual arts,
music and literature.
5. “Liberty Leading The People” (1830)
by French Romantic period painter Eugène Delacroix
6. “Wanderer Above
the Sea of Fog”
by the German Romantic
painter
Caspar David
Friedrich
(1774 – 1840)
7. Characteristics of
Romantic Period Music
1. Individuality of musical style with
emphasis on self-expression
2. Development of new harmonies, including
chromatic harmonies - harmonies that use all
the keys of the piano keyboard - the black keys
and the white keys - together.
3. Development of "program music" – music
that depicts a story or scene
8. 4. Development of "nationalism" in music,
such as French music, Spanish music,
Hungarian music, Czech, music, etc.,
incorporating native folk music
5. Greater variety of mood, atmosphere and
tone color
6. Expanded orchestra size for many new
compositions, including large brass sections,
expanded woodwind sections and the addition
of new instruments, such as English horn, bass
clarinet, contrabassoon and added percussion.
9. 7. Development of a wider range of musical
dynamics - (volume) - from very soft
("pianissimo") to very loud ("fortissimo") often
encompassing soaring musical high points
8. Greater flexibility of tempo, (musical
speed) incorporating the increased use of
accelerandos (speeding up) and ritardandos
(slowing down), as well as extensive use of
rubato (the bending and stretching of
tempo/rhythm).
10. Composers of the Romantic Period
Ludwig van Beethoven
German; 1770-1827
9 Symphonies,
5 Piano Concertos,
1 Violin Concerto
Many Works for Piano
Chamber Music
1 Opera
11. Composers of the Romantic Period
Franz Schubert
Austrian; 1797-1828
9 Symphonies,
600+ Songs,
Chamber Music
Solo Piano Music
Unfinished Symphony (0’47”)
Gretchen am Spinnrade
12. Composers of the Romantic Period
Gioacchino Rossini
Italian; 1792-1868
Many Operas
including
The Barber of Seville
and William Tell
William Tell Overture Part 1
Part 2 / (Finale: 2’44”)
Largo al Factotum
13. Composers of the Romantic Period
Hector Berlioz
French; 1803-1869
Symphonies
Operas
Overtures
Symphonie Fantastique
March to the Scaffold
14. Composers of the Romantic Period
Felix Mendelssohn
German; 1809-1847
5 Symphonies,
Concertos,
Overtures,
Chamber Music
Choral Music
Overture to A Midsummer Night's
15. Composers of the Romantic Period
Robert Schumann
German; 1810-1856
Symphonies,
1 Piano Concerto
Many Songs (Lieder)
Piano Music
Lied: "Ich grolle nicht"
16. Composers of the Romantic Period
Frederic Chopin
Polish; 1810-1849
Piano Music
Chopin, (along with Liszt)
was one of the two most
important composers of
piano music in the Romantic
period. His works for solo
piano are among the
cornerstones of the piano
repertoire.
“Heroic” Polonaise in A-flat, Opus 53
17. Composers of the Romantic Period
Franz Liszt
Hungarian; 18111886 Piano Music,
Tone Poems,
2 Piano Concertos
Liszt is one of the most
important composers of
piano music in the
Romantic period.
Liebestraum
18. Composers of the Romantic Period
Richard Wagner
German; 1813-1883
Operas
Wagner composed the
most important German
operas of the Romantic
period including
The Flying Dutchman,
Lohengrin, Tannhauser,
The Ring Operas and
Tristan and Isolde.
Prelude to Die Meistersinger
19. Composers of the Romantic Period
Giuseppe Verdi
Italian; 1813-1901
Operas
Verdi was one of the two
most important composers
of Italian operas of the
Romantic period, or any
period of operatic history.
[Aida, La Traviata,
Rigoletto, Il Trovatore]
"Libiamo" from La Traviata
20. Composers of the Romantic Period
Anton Bruckner
Austrian; 1824-1896
9 Symphonies,
Choral Music
Bruckner is best known
for his symphonies, in
which he expanded the
symphonic form in both
length and scope.
Symphony No. 4 - Finale
21. Composers of the Romantic Period
Johann Strauss Jr.
Austrian; 18251899 Waltzes,
Polkas, Operettas
Known as the “Waltz
King,” Johann Strauss,
Jr. was the leading
composer of “light”
music during the
Romantic period.
On the Beautiful Blue Danube
22. Composers of the Romantic Period
Johannes Brahms
1833-1897
4 Symphonies,
Concertos, Piano
Works, Songs,
Chamber Music
Brahms is considered
to be one of the most
important composers of
the Romantic period.
Symphony No. 4 - 1st Movement
23. Composers of the Romantic Period
Peter Illych Tchaikovsky
Russian; 1840-1893
6 Symphonies,
Ballets, Concertos,
Other Orchestral Works,
Operas
Tchaikovsky is also
considered to be one of the
most important composers of
the Romantic period.
Symphony No. 4 - Finale
24. Composers of the Romantic Period
Antonin Dvorak
Czech; 1841-1904
9 Symphonies, Concertos,
Other Orchestral Works
Chamber Music,
Choral Music
Dvorak is one of the most
important composers of
orchestral music of the late
Romantic period.
New World Symphony - Adagio
25. Composers of the Romantic Period
Giacomo Puccini
Italian; 1858-1924
Operas
Puccini is one of the two
most important composers of
Italian opera in the Romantic
period, or any period in
operatic history.
[La Boheme, Tosca,
Madame Butterfly, Turandot
Manon Lescaut]
"O soave fanciulla" from La
26. Composers of the Romantic Period
Richard Strauss
German; 1864-1949
Tone Poems, Operas,
Songs (Lieder)
Richard Strauss is the
composer of the most
important tone poems ever
composed, as well as the most
important German operas in
the post-Wagner
Romantic era.
Don Juan - Opening
27. Composers of the Romantic Period
Gustav Mahler
1860-1911
9 Symphonies,
Songs (Lieder)
Mahler is the last great
composer of symphonies in
the school of Austrian &
German composers that
included Haydn, Mozart,
Beethoven, Schubert,
Bruckner & Brahms.
Symphony No. 2 - Finale - Ending
28. Composers of the Romantic Period
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Russian; 1873-1943
Concertos, Piano Music,
Symphonies, Songs
Rachmaninoff was one of the
greatest pianists in history, as
well as one of the last of the
great Romantic composers.
His life and career extended
well into the Modern era of
musical history.
Concerto No. 2 for Piano - Opening
