Lesson 16: Romantic Period, 1830–1900

Romantic Period Music

A musical era emphasizing emotional expression, freedom of form, and individuality, moving away from the strict rules of Classical music.

Shift in Musical Centers

During the Romantic period, major composers came from across Europe, and Vienna was no longer the sole cultural center of music.

Key Romantic Composers

Notable composers include Chopin (Poland), Brahms (Germany), Tchaikovsky (Russia), Liszt (Hungary), and Schubert (Austria).

Classical vs. Romantic Music

Classical music was orderly, conservative, and emotionally balanced, while Romantic music emphasized emotion, flexibility, and personal expression.

Diatonic Harmony

Harmony using only the notes within a given key, common in Classical music and less strictly followed in the Romantic period.

Chromaticism

The use of notes outside the seven-note diatonic scale to create tension, color, and emotional depth.

Rubato

Flexible tempo that allows music to speed up or slow down for expressive purposes without changing the overall pace.

Syncopation

The use of unexpected or off-beat rhythms to create rhythmic interest and emotional impact.

Dynamics

Variations in volume within music, indicated by specific musical symbols to enhance expression.

Tonal Color (Timbre)

The unique sound quality of an instrument, expanded in the Romantic period through larger orchestras and new instruments.

Romantic Orchestra Expansion

Orchestras grew to include instruments like the tuba, piccolo, English horn, bass clarinet, and expanded percussion, allowing richer sound.

Program Music

Instrumental music designed to tell a story, express emotion, or depict scenes, made possible by expanded orchestras and techniques.

Piano in the Romantic Period

The piano became the most popular instrument, enlarged with more notes, a metal frame, and frequent use of the sustain pedal

Romantic Musical Forms

New and adapted forms included the waltz, mazurka, polonaise, nocturne, prelude, ballad, rhapsody, etude, and incidental music.

Nationalism in Romantic Music

Music expressing national pride, politics, and cultural identity, especially prominent in Germany, France, Italy, and Russia.