Music Appreciation

Class #11The Romantic Period, Part 1

Schubert, Mendelssohn(s), Schumann(s) and Chopin

Romantic

Upper case definitionReaction against “reason”Aesthetics

Heightened emotion Nature Children Struggle with nature Death

Aesthetic Goals and Ideals fantasy grotesque whimsy imaginative playful reaching for eternity longing for the unrequited artist and art

“The Artist”

ImagePovertyHealthSufferingEccentricExotic

Liebestod

Romantic idealLove/death

Sturm und DrangStorm and stress/urge/longing

Culture

Purpose“Beauty for Beauty’s Sake”

Robert Lewis Stevenson

Must beauty be “beautiful?”

Emotion Emotionalism?

Audience

No more patronage

Middle-classEducatedMusical

New terms

Artist Genius Inspiration Dilettante Professional Amateur

Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828)

Influences

BeethovenSalieriMozart

Catalogue

Nine symphonies Chamber music 600 Lieder

Lieder Piano

Story-teller Subconscious

Song “cycle” Text

Prose Poetry

Heine, Schiller, Goethe

Der Erlkönig

Accompaniment?

PianoCarriageHorseDissonanceMelody

Wiener Kaffeehaus and jail

Meeting placeArtistsWritersPoetsMusicians

Political radicals

Schubertiade

Schubert Abend Informal

Fun Fame Food

Jessye Norman

Felix Mendelssohn (Bartholdy)(1809-1847)

Style

Elegant Sensitive “Miniature”s

Songs Without Words: “Spring” Incidental Music

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Wedding march

Image of “The Artist?”

Wealthy Musical prodigy Handsome Intelligent

LanguagesArtist

Jewish

Mendelssohn and Bach

CPE Bach’s widow

St. Matthew’s Passion1750-1829

DevoteeContrapuntal influence

Fanny Mendelssohn (Hensel)1805-1847)

Composer?!

Same education More talent and creativity? Pseudonym

HandwritingCorrespondenceStyle

Charles Gounod said...

“Madame Hensel was an unforgettable musician, an excellent pianist, an

intellectually superior woman.

She was small, almost slight, but the fire that burned in her eyes

revealed extraordinary energy.

As a composer, she was exceptionally gifted ...”

Robert Schumann (1810-56)

Romantic ideal

DichterPoet, writer

DenkerPhilosopher

Law student Friedrich Wieck

Romantic paradox

Whimsical and refined

Dreamy and gritty

Vehement and visionary

“Scenes From Childhood”

TräumereiKatharine Hepburn “Song of Love”

The Wild Horseman

Health

Hand Physical health

Mercury?Syphilis?

Mental healthVisions

Institutionalized

Musical pyramid Only composer to master compositions on

one instrument (the piano) before proceeding to larger compositions;

Solo piano for over 8 years;

1st orchestral composition not until 1842;

Difficult large structures.

Cultural Accomplishments Davidsbündler

Philistines! Florestan und Eusebius

Neue Zeitschrift für Musik”1st musical journal/criticism

New composers/styles Chopin and Brahms

Clara Wieck Schumann(1819-1896)

Limitations...

"I once believed that I possessed creative talent, but I have given up this idea;

a woman must not desire to compose — there has never yet been one able to do it.

Should I expect to be the one?"

“The High Priestess of Music” Father & Teacher

60-year “amateur” career Highly accomplished performer

InspirationRobert’s most passionate music150 songs in 1840 alone!

Influenced Mendelssohn, Brahms, Chopin

Musician, Wife, Mother Finances

ConcertsTeachingPremieres

Eight childrenRevolution of Dresden rescue

Rumors...

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)

Web sites

http://www.chopin.pl/spis_tresci/index_en.html

http://www.chopin.org/ip.asp?op=Home

Nationalism Folk tunes Harmonies

Influence: Wagner, Liszt

Forms Dedications

“Revolutionary Etude” (“November Uprising” 1830)

Sviatoslav Richter Heart

Style

New language Originality Exclusivity

170+ piano No news!

Edits Melody

Paris

Composer Performer Teacher

Parisian Friends

Franz Liszt Hector Berlioz Vincenzo Bellini Felix Mendelssohn Ferdinand Hiller Heinrich Heine

Salon society

Schubert abend concerts Social, musical, political, intellectual

Personality

“The lonely artist is surrounded by frivolous society.”

“Romantic” appeal?

Romance

Women as inspiration

Piano Concerto #1 dedication:

“I have not yet exchanged a syllable with her of whom I dream every night. While my thoughts were with her I composed the Adagio of my concerto”.

Aurore Duvedant...

or George Sand?

Feminist!

 "I know that I am the slave and you the lord. The law of the land has made

you my master....you have the right of the stronger party, and society

confirms you in it; but over my will, sir, you are powerless."

Odd couple

Prude vs. radical

Frail vs. healthy

Demure vs. aggressive

Confidence, intellect, sexuality

Inspiration

21 NocturnesArtur Rubinstein

John Field (1782-1837)

21st Century