Romantic Era1810-1900

Mrs CrossanMoffat Academy

Composers

BEETHOVEN1770-1827 SCHUBERT

1797-1828

MENDELSSOHN1809-1847

BRAHMS1833-1897

VERDI1873-1901

WAGNER1813-1883

DVORAK1841-1904

TCHAIKOVSKY1840-1893

Romanticism ~1810 - 1900

““Wanderer above the Sea Fog” by C. D Wanderer above the Sea Fog” by C. D Freidrich. An exam of Romantic painting.Freidrich. An exam of Romantic painting.

A beginning of A beginning of new ideas.new ideas.

An artistic, literary and An artistic, literary and intellectual movement which intellectual movement which was strengthened by the was strengthened by the Industrial Revolution.Industrial Revolution.

Composers showed a Composers showed a greater interest in Nature. greater interest in Nature. i.e. Beethoven’s Pastoral i.e. Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony.Symphony.

Composers had a Composers had a fascination with the fascination with the mystic and mystic and supernatural both supernatural both religious and spooky.religious and spooky.

Attention to Attention to National National Identity~ Identity~ Nationalism.Nationalism.

Composers started to Composers started to show discontent with show discontent with musical conventions.musical conventions.

What composers wrote about…

• Romantic composers had a wide interest in all forms of art and befriended artists, writers, poets and other composers.

• These friendships often provided the inspiration for the composition of new music as the composers experimented with sound to create the feelings of:– emotionsemotions– the story of poemsthe story of poems– the description of the the description of the

countrysidecountryside– fantasies and dreamsfantasies and dreams– lovelove– warwar– rivers and lakesrivers and lakes

Nationalism– Music where the composer

writes music to represent a country.

– They could use folk melodies, notable rhythms, programme music which describes their homeland.

Jean Sibelius- ‘Finlandia’Jean Sibelius- ‘Finlandia’Interpreted to represent the rising

nation of Finland, which would someday gain independence from

Russia

Frederic Chopin- ‘Mazurkas’Frederic Chopin- ‘Mazurkas’The first composer to incorporate The first composer to incorporate

nationalistic elements into his nationalistic elements into his compositions. His Mazurkas use compositions. His Mazurkas use

nationalistic rhythms.nationalistic rhythms.

Edvard Grieg- ‘Peer Gynt’Edvard Grieg- ‘Peer Gynt’A Norwegian folk story which Grieg put A Norwegian folk story which Grieg put

to music.to music.

Edward Elgar- ‘Pomp and Edward Elgar- ‘Pomp and Circumstance’Circumstance’

A military style march. The name is taken A military style march. The name is taken from a work of Shakespearefrom a work of Shakespeare

The industrial revolutionEvents and changes that happen in society such as ideas, attitudes, discoveries, inventions, and historical events always affect music.

The Industrial Revolution was in full effect by the late 18th century and early 19th century. This event had a very profound effect on music:

– there were major improvements in the mechanical valves, and keys that most woodwinds and brass instruments depend on. The new and innovative instruments could be played with more ease and they were more reliable

Another development that had an effect on music was the rise of the middle class.

Composers before this period lived on the patronage of the aristocracy. Many times their audience was small, composed mostly of the upper class and individuals who were knowledgeable about music.

The Romantic composers, on the other hand, often wrote for public concerts and festivals, with large audiences of paying customers, who had not necessarily had any music lessons. Composers of the Romantic Era, like

ElgarElgar, showed the world that there should be "no segregation of musical "no segregation of musical tastes”tastes” and that the "purpose was to write music that was to be heard“."purpose was to write music that was to be heard“.

Addition of Addition of the TUBAthe TUBA

Increase in Increase in ORCHESTRA ORCHESTRA

SIZESIZE

POWERFUPOWERFUL BRASS L BRASS SECTIONSECTION

The Romantic Orchestra

Larger Larger WOODWIND

WOODWIND SECTION:~

SECTION:~ piccolo, piccolo,

flute, cor anglais, oboe,

flute, cor anglais, oboe,

clarinet, bass clarinet,

clarinet, bass clarinet,

bassoon and double bassoon!

bassoon and double bassoon!

Growing Growing PERCUSSION PERCUSSION

SECTION~ SECTION~ including including a range of drums and a range of drums and

cymbals.cymbals.

Increased Increased STRINGS~ STRINGS~ to to

balance out the other balance out the other larger sections.larger sections.

The Romantic Orchestra

• Composers of the Romantic period were very excited and keen to explore all the new sound possibilities.

• They wanted to create new, rich and varied timbres when writing for groups from small ensembles (chamber music) to giant orchestral sounds.

Early Romantic Chamber Music

• Bridging the gap between the Classical and Romantic periods, Beethoven continued the development of chamber music with a combination of sonatassonatas, string string triostrios, piano triospiano trios, string quartetsstring quartets and similar compositions.

Listen to this excerpt from a piano sonata, just bridging the period from

Classical to Romantic, in which the third movement is still a minuet and trio.

The ternary form is quite clear to the listener. Notice the use

of octaves, imitation, the contrast in dynamics,

the use of rubato and the different style of the playing in the middle section the trio.

Listen to the arpeggiosListen to the arpeggiosIn the minor key.In the minor key.

Early Romantic Chamber MusicNow listen to an excerpt from a last movement, a rondo, from a violin sonata by Beethoven and notice how the two instruments

share the thematic material between them.

Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 135, his last, written in 1825 just two years

before his death. In his later works the standard shape of the movements starts to change a little, for instance the quartet before

this had five movements. In this one the second movement,

instead of being slow, is a fast one, a scherzo, which by now had replaced

the minuet and trio. Listen for the ternary form, the quite distinct

syncopation near the beginning, lots of staccato playing, imitation

between parts, and a repeated figure in the cello part before the repeat of

the first section.

This quintet is unusual as it is one of the few chamber works to use a double bass added to a piano quartet of piano, violin, viola and cello. After the main theme has been introduced the

distinctive rippling sound to represent the stream is played in

the first variation.

Late Romantic Chamber Music

• As the 19th century progressed the chamber music styles established in the Classical period continued and much of the progress was built around the use of the new improved piano.

• Robert Schumann (1810–1856) composed all kinds of music and is famous for his programmatic symphonies, concertos, song cycles and

instrumental music. 

Late Romantic Chamber Music

Ensemble MusicString quartets were still a popular form with composers.

Listen to this excerpt from the last movement of Dvorak’s String Quartet No. 10. Notice :

– the bright, happy ‘allegro assai’, – the imitation between parts, – and most importantly the changes

of tempo within the excerpt.

Composers started to experiment with new combinations of instruments •Listen to this excerpt by the French composer Gounod from a work for nine wind instruments: flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons and a French horn. This is a scherzo so you will notice:

– the quick three beats in a bar, – much use of imitation and

repetition, – and the different texture of the

middle section introduced by the French horn with the original material returning towards the end of the movement, giving this an overall ternary form.

Piano Music• One of the most important

features of the 18th century was the development of the piano from a wooden-framed instrument with leather-covered hammers to an instrument with an iron frame and felt-covered hammers much like the upright and grand pianos of today.

• The greater strength of the frame allowed for longer, thicker strings and as a result, a much warmer and richer sound.

Piano Music

Sonatas– While sonatas were still written after

the time of Beethoven and Schubert, there was a tendency among many composers to write shorter works, some of which could express feeling, emotion or atmosphere.

Prelude: Chopin- “Snowdrop”Prelude: Chopin- “Snowdrop”Listen to the use of Rubato.Listen to the use of Rubato.

Nocturne: John FieldNocturne: John FieldListen to the singing melody played against Listen to the singing melody played against the arpeggio accompaniment. Again Listen to the arpeggio accompaniment. Again Listen to the use of Rubato and the use of suspensions.the use of Rubato and the use of suspensions.

Piano Music

• Theme and Variations– Theme and variations was still a popular

form and one of the few to survive from the Baroque period.

• Listen to this example of variations on a theme of a well-known Christmas carol, ‘Adeste Fideles’, better known to many as ‘O come all ye faithful’. Things to listen carefully for:

Introduction Introduction using the first using the first phrase of the phrase of the carol- in the carol- in the MINORMINOR key. key.

Followed by the Followed by the MAIN MAIN

RECOGNISABLE RECOGNISABLE THEME.THEME.

Continued with Continued with VARIATIONSVARIATIONS on parts of the on parts of the

theme.theme.

Early Symphony• The period from 1815 to

1910 saw a comprehensive development of the symphony – from a work in four four

movementsmovements which could be played by a small orchestra of 30 to 40 players30 to 40 players, to,

– by the end of the nineteenth century, a large work for an orchestra of as many as 120 120 playersplayers. During that time the shape of the symphony also developed and could have anything from one to six one to six movements. movements.

Listening Comparison

• Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 was regarded as a turning point in orchestration and while this and the next four of his works in this style are classical, differences start to be heard in the sound of the orchestra and the handling of the instruments.

• Listen to an excerpt of the third movement from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3. Notice:

– the speed of the music, – the dynamic contrasts, crescendo, – the use of strings and woodwind conversing

with one another and a typical Beethoven technique of following a very loud section with a very quiet one. 

• By the time Beethoven wrote his Symphony No. 9, he was totally deaf and despite this his music had reached new levels in originality.

• The ‘Ode to Joy’ ‘Ode to Joy’ of the last movement of this symphony is world-renowned and his combination of large orchestra, SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) chorus and SATB soloists was unique in a symphony of this time.

18041804 18231823BEETHOVENBEETHOVEN

Late Symphony• As the nineteenth century

progressed most of the major composers wrote symphonies. The orchestra grew in size to include:– more woodwind, at least

double woodwind instruments and later triple with the inclusion of piccolo on the top and contra bassoon on the bottom (In an orchestra double woodwind implies two instruments per type and triple, three per instrument.)

– a brass section of up to four trumpets, four French horns, three trombones and tuba

– a larger percussion section using timpani, bass drum and crash cymbals.

Late Symphonies

DVORAK:DVORAK:Wrote a number of symphonies, the Wrote a number of symphonies, the most well known- “From the New most well known- “From the New World”. It has 4 movements:World”. It has 4 movements:1)1)AdagioAdagio (In sonata form) (In sonata form)2)2)LargoLargo ( (The one everyone knowsThe one everyone knows)- a )- a very dramatic brass section at the very dramatic brass section at the beginning. Main theme played on Cor beginning. Main theme played on Cor Anglais.Anglais.3)3)ScherzoScherzo4)4)AllegroAllegro

BRAHMSBRAHMS::Wrote 4 symphonies. These Wrote 4 symphonies. These were written in a classical were written in a classical shape. However, he used shape. However, he used larger orchestra and the larger orchestra and the works were on a lot larger works were on a lot larger scale taking almost 1 hour scale taking almost 1 hour to perform.to perform.

Dvorak “New World”Dvorak “New World”

VOCAL MUSIC~Solo Song~

Lied• Lied is a work for solo

voice and piano.– The text is in German; – the structure of the verses

could be strophic or through composed.

– An important feature is that the voice and piano are equally important with the piano often setting the atmosphere for the text of the song in the accompaniment.

GERMAN GERMAN FOR FOR

SONGSONG

STROPHICSTROPHIC::A vocal or choral A vocal or choral composition in which composition in which each verse has the each verse has the same music. same music.

THROUGH COMPOSED:THROUGH COMPOSED:A vocal or choral composition in A vocal or choral composition in which there is which there is little or no repetitionlittle or no repetition of the music. of the music.

Song Cycle

a group, or cycle, of a group, or cycle, of songs designed to be songs designed to be performed in a performed in a sequence as a single sequence as a single entityentity

all of the songs are by all of the songs are by the same composer and the same composer and often use words from often use words from the same poet or lyricistthe same poet or lyricist

Unification can be Unification can be achieved by a narrative or achieved by a narrative or a persona common to the a persona common to the songs, or even, as in songs, or even, as in Robert Schumann’s Robert Schumann’s Liederkreis Liederkreis by the by the atmospheric setting of the atmospheric setting of the forest.forest.

Song cycles exist in modern Song cycles exist in modern music too:music too:Pink Floyd Pink Floyd ~ The Wall~ The WallArcade Fire Arcade Fire ~ The Suburbs~ The SuburbsPlan BPlan B ~ The Defamation of ~ The Defamation of Strickland BanksStrickland Banks

Listen to Listen to “Der “Der Lindembaum” Lindembaum” (The Linden (The Linden Tree) from ‘Tree) from ‘WinterreiseWinterreise’ a ’ a cycle of 20 songs by cycle of 20 songs by Franz Franz SchubertSchubert. You can clearly . You can clearly hear hear the composer the composer describing the describing the breeze in breeze in the tree in the piano part. the tree in the piano part.

Choral Music

ORATORIO:ORATORIO:Here is perhaps the most famous chorus by Berlioz, ‘Thou must leave thy lowly dwelling’. Listen to the homophonic texture of the music, which is strophic in style, i.e. three verses of the same music. 

Choral Music

MASS:MASS:Bruckner composed a large number of religious works.He wrote many Masses.  Listen to this excerpt from his Mass in E minor.  Notice the use of unison singing, chromatic sequences towards the end, and organ and orchestral accompaniment, although little is heard of the orchestra in this excerpt.

REQUIEM:REQUIEM:A requiem is a Mass for the dead!Verdi's Requiem has a dramatic sound This is a short movement but it is even more dramatic than Mozart's version. It has a large chorus and orchestra and in particular a large percussion section including a bass drum, clearly heard on the off beat at the beginning, and crash cymbals. 

Programme Music

Programme Music

• Programme music is music which tells a story, describes a scene or painting.

BEETHOVEN: PASTORAL SYMPHONY

NO.6

MUSSORGSKY:PICTURES AT

AN EXHIBITIONSAINT-SAEN:CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS

DUKAS:SORCERERS APPRENTICE

Symphonic Poem or Tone Poem

A one movement work which illustrates or evokes the content of a poem, short story, novel, painting or landscape.

considerable length

Dramatic First composed by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt and called Tone Poem’s. He wrote 13. Including ‘Hamlet’ a tone poem based on the Shakespearean play. And ‘Orpheus’ based on the Greek Legend.

Duka’sSorcerer’sApprentice

SmetanaVltava

Saint-SaenDanse

Macabre

Idee Fixe or Leitmotif

a short, constantly recurring musical phrase associated with a particular person, place, or idea.

Richard Wagner:Richard Wagner:The Siegfried leitmotif from Wagner's opera, the third of his Ring cycle; the theme is broader and more richly orchestrated than its earlier appearances, suggesting the emergence of Siegfried's heroic character

Star WarsDarth Vader

Theme

Prokofiev:Peter and the Wolf

Jaws

Test on concepts below:

• Lied• Lieder• Song Cycle• Programme Music• Symphonic/ Tone Poem• Idee Fixe• Nationalism• Late Romanticism

• Chamber music• Sonata• String quartet• Concerto• Symphony• Strophic• Through composed• Oratorio• Mass• Requiem