Overview of Romantic Period Music (1820-1900)

Romanticism

Artistic movement emphasizing individual expression and emotion.

Influence of Beethoven

Beethoven's style shaped Romantic music's emotional depth.

Influence of Mozart

Mozart's forms continued to inspire Romantic composers.

Tone Color

Variety of sounds and timbres in music.

Dynamics

Range of volume levels in a musical piece.

Pitch

Frequency of sound, determining musical notes.

Individuality of Style

Unique sound reflecting composers' personal identities.

Expressive Aims

Music conveying emotions like longing and melancholy.

Nationalism in Music

Music reflecting specific national identities and cultures.

Exoticism

Incorporating foreign elements into musical compositions.

Program Music

Instrumental music linked to a narrative or idea.

Program

Title indicating the non-musical element of a piece.

Expressive Tone Color

Rich sound textures enhancing emotional expression.

Romantic Orchestra

Larger ensemble with diverse instrumental roles.

Technical Virtuosity

High skill level required for performers.

Colorful Harmony

Use of varied chords for emotional intensity.

Chromatic Harmony

Chords containing tones outside major/minor scales.

Dynamic Range

Expanded volume levels from very soft to very loud.

Tempo Fluctuations

Variations in speed for emotional effect.

Rubato

Flexible tempo for expressive performance.

Miniature Forms

Short compositions for intimate home performances.

Monumental Forms

Longer works often performed in concert halls.

Thematic Transformation

Repetition of melodies in varied forms throughout works.

Art Song

Composition for voice and piano, blending poetry and music.

Song Cycle

Set of related art songs grouped together.

Franz Schubert

Pioneer of the art song, composed 600 songs.

Erlkonig

Schubert's famous song illustrating Romantic themes.

Robert Schumann

Composer known for autobiographical and expressive music.

Aufschwung

Schumann's passionate piano piece with varied sections.

Clara Wieck Schumann

Famous pianist and composer, born 1819 in Leipzig.

Johannes Brahms

Friend of Clara Schumann, significant composer.

Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano

Schumann's finest chamber work, Op. 17, 1846.

Frederic Chopin

Polish composer known for piano music.

Nocturne in E Flat Major

Chopin's popular night piece, composed 1830-1831.

Etude in C Minor, Op. 10 No. 12

Chopin's revolutionary piece inspired by Warsaw takeover.

Polonaise in A Flat Major, Op. 53

Chopin's stately dance for Polish nobility, 1842.

Franz Liszt

Hungarian composer, greatest pianist of all time.

Symphonic poem

One-movement orchestral work based on literary ideas.

Transcendental Etude No. 10

Liszt's finest virtuoso piece of the Romantic era.

Felix Mendelssohn

Composer known for conducting Bach's St. Matthew Passion.

Elijah

Mendelssohn's high point, performed in England, 1846.

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel

Felix's sister, composer, and pianist.

Program music

Instrumental music associated with a narrative or idea.

Program symphony

Composition in several movements with a narrative.

Concert overture

Single-movement orchestral piece, usually in sonata form.

Hector Berlioz

First French Romantic composer, known for dramatic works.

March to the Scaffold

Berlioz's fierce fourth movement in Symphonie Fantastique.

Nationalism in Music

Musical expression reflecting national identity and pride.

The Moldau

Smetana's symphonic poem representing the Vltava River.

Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky

Famous Russian composer, known for dramatic symphonies.

Romeo and Juliet

Tchaikovsky's famous orchestral work from 1869.

Antonin Dvorak

Czech composer influenced by folk music traditions.

Symphony No. 9 in E minor

Dvorak's 'From the New World', first movement Adagio.

Georges Bizet

Composer of Carmen, one of the most performed operas.

Carmen

Bizet's opera about a fearless gypsy in Spain.

Giuseppe Verdi

Most popular opera composer, known for expressive melodies.

La Donna e mobile

Famous aria from Verdi's opera Rigoletto.

Giacomo Puccini

Known for operas like La Boheme and Manon Lescaut.

Richard Wagner

Influential composer known for his operatic philosophy.

Bayreuth Festival

Opera house built by Wagner in Germany.