Romantic Period Vocabulary

Flashcards on the Romantic Period in Music

Program Music

Instrumental music that is supposed to come together with a story behind it; includes tone poems and symphonic poems.

Tone Poems/Symphonic Poems

One-movement instrumental pieces intended to tell a musical story.

Art Song

A composition for solo voice and piano where poetry and music are fused together; the piano and voice are equally important.

Strophic Form

A form used in art songs where the same music is repeated for each verse or stanza.

Through-Composed

A form used in art songs where there is new music for each stanza.

Modified Strophic Form

A form used in art songs where at least two of the stanzas are set to the same music, while others may have different music (less common).

Schubertiads

Parties where only Franz Schubert's music was played.

Lieder

The German word (plural) for art song.

Erlkönig (Eropenis)

A popular art song by Franz Schubert, based on the legend of the Elf King, similar to a bogeyman or demon.

Character Piece

A short musical composition, usually for piano, that expresses a particular mood or character.

Virtuoso

A musician with exceptional technical skill, particularly on an instrument (e.g., Franz Liszt on piano).