The Romantic Period [Final Exam (30%)]

The Romantic Period: Core Philosophy & Cultural Shift

Years: ____—____

Philosophy: Emphasized e____, i____, p____, and i____ of p____. 💗

• R____ the 18th-century Neoclassical values of s____, s____, e____ r____, and f____ p____. 😤

Artistic & Literary Themes:

• E____ S____ 😌: Focused on the a____ i____ f____.

• F____ & M____🔮🪄: Explored d____ w____ and the s____.

• N____🌷: Deep e____ for n____, l____ a___, and the n____ w____.

• M____ A____ I____👵🏻: P____ for m____ c____ and r____ n____

1820--1900

emotion, imagination, passion, individuality, expression

rejected, symmetry, simplicity, emotional restraint, formal perfection

emotional subjectivity, artist’s inner feelings

fantasy, mystery, dream worlds, supernatural

nature, enthusiasm, nature, landscape art, natural world

middle ages interest, passion, medieval culture, romantic novels

The Romantic Period: Musical Characteristics

1. I____ of S____
   
   Music r____ the composer’s p____ i____ and i____ e____ s____.

2. E____ A___ & S____
   
   Deep e____ of f____, r____ l____ (often t____), s____ h____, and n____.

3. N____
   
   Deliberate c____ of music using f____ s____, d____, h____, and l____ of a c____ h____ 🏡.

4. E____
   
   Musical i____ of m____, r____, or i____ suggesting f____ l____ (e.g., Puccini’s Madame Butterfly depicting Japan)

5. P____ M____
   
   I____ music a____ with a n__-m____ s____, p____, i____, or s____.

6. M____ vs. M____ F____
   
   E____ c____ in s___——from b____ piano pieces or songs lasting a few minutes (Chopin, Schubert) to gigantic orchestral works lasting several h____ (Berlioz, Wagner.

7. T____ T____
   
   U____ l____ w____ by a____ a theme’s c____ through c____ in d____, o____, or r____ when it r____ in l____ m____ (pioneered by B____).

individuality, style

reflected, personal identity, innermost emotional state

expressive aims, subjects

exploration, feelings, romantic love, tragic, supernatural horrors, nature

nationalism

creation, folk songs, dances, history, legends, composer’s homeland

exoticism

insertion melodies, rhythms, instruments, foreign lands

program music

instrumental, associated, non-musical story, poem, idea, scene

miniature, monumental forms

extreme contrast, scope, brief, hours

thematic transformation

unifying long works, altering, character, changes, dynamics, orchestration, rhythm, reappears, later movements, Beethoven

The Romantic Period: Musical Elements

1. Melody

• L____, e____, and s___-___

• P____ become l____, i____, and contained e____ p____ r____ with c____.

2. Rhythm

• D____ t____ f____ using r____ (the s____ h____ b____ or p____ f____ of t____ to i____ e____ e____).

3. Harmony

• R____, c____, c____, and h____ e____

• C____ H____: Extensive use of c____ containing t____ from the c____ s____ rather than strict major/minor keys.

• D____ & M____: Frequent usage of u____ c____, d____ r____, and r____ k____ m____ to h____ t____ and m____.

4. Texture

• Chiefly h____, tending toward t____, h____, and r____ sounds

5. Dynamics

• V_____ e____ dynamic r____—-ranging from ffff to pppp—-with frequent c____, d____, and s____ d____ s____.

6. Orchestra & Tone Color

• E____ to nearly ___ players by the e____ of the era

• B____, w____, and p____ sections took on p____ roles

• N____ t____ were introduced (e.g., flutists playing in breathy low registers, string players striking strings with the wood of the bow—col legno).

7. Improvements to the Piano

• C___-i____ f____ were added to h____ s____ under h____ t____

• F____-c____ h____ provided a w____, s____ tone

• E____ k____ r____

• D____ / S____ P____: Allowed a s____ b____ of t____ across all registers.

lyrical, expressive, song-like

phrases, longer, irregular, expanded pitch ranges, chromaticism

dynamic tempo fluctuations, rubato, slight holding back, pressing forward, tempo, intensify emotional expression

rich, colorful, complex, highly expressive

chromatic harmony, chords, tones, chromatic scale

dissonance, modulation, unstable chords, delayed resolutions, rapid key modulations, heighten tension, mystery

homophonic, thick, heavy, rich

expanded, 100, end

bass, woodwinds, percussion, prominent

new techniques

cast-iron frame, hold strings, higher tension

felt-covered hammers, warmer, singing

extended keyboard range

damper sustain pedal, sonorous blend, tones

Three Romantic Genres

1. The A____ S____ (L____ / L____)

• Definition: A composition for s____ v____ and p____ that s____ p____ to music.

• Structure & Role:
  
  1) The v____ and p____ act as e____ i____ p____; the p____ a____ sets the m____ and p____ p____ i____.
  
  2) P____ I____: Sets the i___ m____.
  
  3) P____: A c____ p____ s____ at the e____ of the song that s____ u____ the o____ e____.

• Vocal Forms:
  
  S____ Form: R____ the s____ m____ for e____ s____ of text (e.g., folk songs, lullabies).
  
  T____-C____ Form: W____ n____ m____ for e____ s____ s____ to reflect c____ m____.
  
  M____ S____ Form: C____ e_____; t____ s____ s____ i____ m____ while a____ s____ introduces n____ m____ (ABA).

• S____ C____: A g____ of i____ a____ s____ u____ by a s____ n____ s____ running through the p____ or c____ m____ m____.

2. Program Music vs. Absolute Music

• P____ M____: I____ compositions associated with a s____, p____, i____, or s____ specified by t____ or explanatory p____ n____.
  
  

• A____ M____: I____ music written purely for its own sake, w_____ any i____ d____ or l____ a____ (favoured by J. B___).

art song, lied, lieder

solo voice, piano, sets poetry

voice, piano, equal interpretive partners; piano accompaniment, mood, paints poetic imagery

piano introduction, initial mood

postlude, concluding piano section, end, sums up, overall emotion

strophic, repeating, same music, each stanza

through-composed, writing new music, every single stanza, changing moods

modified strophic, combining elements; two stanzas share identical music, another stanza, new music

program music, instrumental, story, poem, scene, titles, program notes

absolute music, instrumental, without, intended descriptive, literary associations, Brahms

The Romantic Period: Four Main Genres of Programmatic Instrumental Works

1. P____ S____

• A m___-m____ o____ work where e____ m____ carries a d____ t____ (e.g., Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique).

2. C____ O____

• A o___-m____ o____ work, usually in s____ form, m____ after o____ o____ but d____ as an i____ c____ p____ (e.g., Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, 1812 Overture).

3. S____ / T____ P____

• A o____-m____ p____ o____ piece with f____ or o____ f____ s____ (pioneered by F. L____; e.g., Smetana’s The Moldau).

4. I____ Music

• Music composed to be p____ b____ and d____ a p____ to set the a____ for d____ a____ (e.g., Mendelssohn’s Wedding March for A Midsummer Night’s Dream).

program symphony

multi-movement orchestral, each movement, descriptive title

concert overture

one-movement programmatic orchestral, sonata, modeled, opera overtures, designed, independent concert piece

symphonic / tone poem

one-movement programmatic orchestral, flexible original formal structures, Liszt

incidental

performed before during, play, atmosphere, dramatic action

The Romantic Period: Nationalism in Music

Composers i____ i____ f____ d____, n____ l____, national h____, and r____ m____.

The Russian Five: A group of 1860s composers based in St. Petersburg who established a distinct Russian national style:

1. M. B____

2. C. C___

3. A. B____

4. N. R____-K____

5. M. M____

Characteristics of Russian National Folk Music:

• Uses a____ c____ m____

• I____ m____ (such as 5 beats per bar)

• Frequent m____ s____

intentionally incorporated folk dances, native legends, history, regional melodies

Balakirev

Cui

Borodin

Rimsky-Korsakov

Mussorgsky

ancient church modes

irregular meter

meter shifts

The Romantic Period: Key Composers

1. F. S____

2. R____ S____

3. C.____W____ S____

4. J. B____

5. F. C____

6. F. L____

7. F. M____

8. P. I. T____

9. B. S____

10. H. B____

Schubert

Robert Schumann

Clara Wieck Schumann

Brahms

Chopin

Liszt

Mendelssohn

Tchaikovsky

Smetana

Berlioz

Key Romantic Composers: Franz Schubert

Lifespan: 1797—1828

Biography:

• Born in V____

• The f____ V____ c____ to e____ a living e____ through m____ c____

• Hosted intimate evening g____ called “S____”.

Musical Output: M____ of the a___ s____ (composed over 6___ Lieder).

vienna

first viennese composer, earn, exclusively, musical composition

gatherings, Schubertiads

Key Romantic Composers: Robert Schumann

Lifespan: 1810—1856

Biography:

• G____ composer, writer, and music critic

• F____ the New J____ of Music

• Used a m____ d____ to stretch his right hand, resulting in a permanent finger disability that ended his career as a concert pianist 😢.

Style & Alter Egos:

• Wrote music loaded with l____ and c____ / secret r____.

• Wrote under two i____ c____ p____: Florestan (outgoing, passionate) and Eusebius (introspective, dreamy)

German

founded, journal

mechanical device

literary, coded references

imaginary critical personas

Key Romantic Composers: Clara Wieck Schumann

Lifespan: 1819—1896

Biography:

• L____ 19^th-century f____ c____ p____

• C____ p____

• W____ of Robert Schumann 💍

leading, female concert pianist

child prodigy

wife

Key Romantic Composers: Johannes Brahms

Lifespan: 1833—1897

Biography:

• Born in H____

• Close f____ to Robert and Clara S____

Musical Style:

• C_____ within the Romantic Period

• A____ n___ genres

• Chose to r__-i____ traditional C____ f____ (symphonies, concertos, chamber music) with R____ h____.

• A p____ who spent 20 years finalizing his First Symphony.

Rhythmic Features:

• Known for p____ (“2 against 3”), s____, and c___-r____

Classicist

avoided new

re-interpret, Classical forms, Romantic harmony

perfectionist

polyrhythms, syncopation, cross-rhythms

Key Romantic Composers: Frédéric Chopin

Lifespan: 1810—1849

Biography:

• P____-born composer who spent his a____ career in P____

• Extremely r____

• Preferred playing in i____ aristocrat salons rather than public halls

Musical Style:

• Exclusively centered on s____ p____ works

• Known for s____ m____, o____-i____ o____ e____

• S____ use of the s____ p____ and r____

• Expressed P____ n____ through t____ d____ r____

Polish, adult, Paris

reserved

intimate

solo piano

singing melodies, opera-inspired ornamental embellishments

subtle, sustain pedal, rubato

Polish nationalism, traditional dance rhythms

Key Romantic Composers: Franz Liszt

Lifespan: 1811—1886

Biography:

• Born in H____

• V____ p____

• C____ of the s____ p____ r____, the s____ p____, and m____

• F____ pianist to play e____ programs from m____ and turn the piano s____ on stage so the audience could see his profile and hands 🎹

Musical Style:

• O____ p____ with r____ o____

• W____ d____ c____ (ppp to fff)

• Daring l____

• T____ t____

Hungary

virtuosic pianist

creator, solo piano recital, symphonic poem, masterclasses

first, entire, memory, sideways

orchestral piano, rapid octaves

wide dynamic contrasts

leaps

thematic transformation

Key Romantic Composers: Felix Mendelssohn

Lifespan: 1809—1847

Biography:

• Born to a wealthy, G____ family 💰

• Single-handedly r____ J.S. B____ music during his historic 1829 performance

Musical Style:

• C____

• Focused on b____, e____, and r____

• A____ e____ e____ s____

german

revived Bach’s

Classical

balance, elegance, restraint

avoided extreme emotional states

Key Romantic Composers: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Lifespan: 1840—1893

Biography: L____ R____ composer

Musical Style:

• C____ R____ n____ e____ with W____ E____ o_____ t____

• E____ m____ 🎶

• S____ d____ c____

• D____ c____

leading Russian

combined Russian national elements, Western European orchestral techniques

expressive melodies

sharp dynamic changes

dramatic climaxes

Key Romantic Composers: Bedřich Smetana

Lifespan: 1824—1884

Biography:

• P____ and f____ of C____ n____ m____

• I____ B____ f____ d____, h____, and l____ into his compositions

• Became fully deaf at age 50 😶🔇

pioneer, founder, Czech national music

incorporated Bohemian folk dances, history, legends

Key Romantic Composers: Hector Berlioz

Lifespan: 1803—1869

Biography:

• F____ composer

• Abandoned medical studies to pursue music at the Paris Conservatory

• W____ the prestigious Prix de Rome s____

Musical Style:

• D____ orchestrator

• P____ n____ t____ c____

• U____ instrumental c____

• A____ p____

• M____ o____ forces

• Coined the musical term “I____ F____ (f____ i____)”, in which a r____ t____ r_____ a specific p____, e____, or i____ and t____ throughout a piece to reflect c____ in n____ or p____ s____

French

won, scholarship

daring

pioneered new tone colors

unusual, combinations

asymmetrical phrases

massive orchestral

Idée Fixe, fixed idea recurring theme represents, person, emotion, idea, transforms, changes, narrative, psychological state