Music Notes

program music

instrumental music that was meant to tell a story or explore non-musical ideas, identified or hinted at by the title
suggests specific characters and events, or general mood or emotion

ex: Hector Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique

romanticism

A broad concept that concerns the ability of art to express emotions and subjectives states; in music, Romanticism is commonly applied to much of the 19th century
Ex: Schubert using poems by Goethe in his songs

song

A short poem or other set of words set to music or meant to be sung
Ex: Shubert turning poems into song

nationalism

declaration of unique, political, social, and cultural identities
Antonin Dvorak: incorporated both Czech and American nationalism in his pieces. Symphony No. 6 - incorporates bohemian folk music, and also american music

Bel Canto

Beautiful singing composed of florid melodic lines, great agility, purity of tone,
Ex: pieces by Gioachino Rossini

Giuseppe Verdi

Italian Opera Composer, composed during the Italian unification movement, was a figurehead for italian liberation movement
Ex: Composed Othello