Romantic TERMS

1848 Revolutions

Revolutions aimed at overthrowing the aristocracy in Germany, Italy, and France.

Wagner’s - The Ring Cycle

A narrative about the Fall of Gods symbolizing decline in real-world power.

J.S. Bach revival

Mainly driven by performers like Felix Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann, and Franz Liszt, focusing on works like the Well-Tempered Clavier.

Felix conducts St. Matthew Passion

Felix Mendelssohn's role in conducting this major choral work.

Symphony Recital

Franz Liszt coined the term for solo performances, highlighting works like 'Sonata in B minor' and 'Paganini Etudes', but excluded the piano concerto.

Song cycle

A group of songs performed in succession that tells or suggests a story, illustrated by 'Winterreise, Op. 89' by Franz Schubert.

Bel canto opera

An elegant Italian vocal style of the early 19th century characterized by florid melodies.

Opera’s Reminiscence Motive

A melody that recurs throughout an opera, serving as a flashback or character reminder, exemplified by the diminished 7th chord when Zimiel enters.

Double Aria Form

19th-century Italian arias with a two-part form emphasizing emotional intensification from cavatina to cabaletta.

Leitmotif

A musical theme associated with a character or idea that evolves and transforms throughout a work, as extensively used in 'The Ring Cycle'.

Gesamtkunstwerk

A total artwork concept coined by Richard Wagner where poetry, design, staging, and music unite for artistic expression.

Thematic transformation

A method by Franz Liszt to create unity and narrative in a piece through transforming themes to reflect diverse moods.

Nocturne

A short piano piece popular in the Romantic period, characterized by an embellished melody and a night-like mood, exemplified by 'Nocturne in D-Flat Major, Op.27, No. 2' by Chopin.

Mazurka

A Polish dance in triple meter or a stylized piano piece based on such a dance, e.g., 'Mazurka in B-flat Major, Op.7, No.1' by Chopin.

Double-function form (instrumental music)

A combination of single-movement and multimovement structures, where sonata form is overlaid on four continuous movements.

Absolute Music

Music that is entirely independent of words or narrative, such as 'Symphony No. 5' by Beethoven.

Characteristic Music

Instrumental music that suggests a mood or scene, indicated in the title, e.g., 'La Coquette Virtuose' by Denis Gaultier.

Program Music

Instrumental music that follows a narrative or sequence of events, often accompanied by a program, such as 'Symphonie fantastique' by Hector Berlioz.

Developing Variation

A process of varying themes and ideas throughout a piece, as coined by Arnold Schoenberg, seen in Brahms’s works.

Symphonic Poem/Tone Poem

A one-movement program music piece for orchestra that conveys a poetic idea or mood, epitomized by 'Romeo and Juliet' by Tchaikovsky.