ROMANTICERA

1820-1900

What’s Happening in the World?

A

merican Civil War (1861-1865)

S

panish-American War (1898)

B

ell invents the telephone (1876)

The Romantic Period

“

Romance” is a French word for “novel”

R

omanticism valued imagination and emotion over

logic.

Rise in Nationalism- patriotic music, or a love for

one’s country.

TUESDAY

The Symphony Orchestra Growing

Continued to use forms from the Classical period but they did develop more.

Beethoven expanded the symphony to 4 movements instead of 3.

The late Romantic Orchestra had up to 100 musicians.

More instruments=more tone colors.

Listen to this example by a Romantic composer Jean Sibelius in his piece, Finlandia

CHANGING STATUS OF MUSICIANS

T

he beginning of music schools (conservatories).

M

usic was seen less as an occupation and more as a calling.

W

omen found more opportunities for musical expression.

R

omantic composers preferred songlike melodies – this became a dominant

feature.

L

isten to the melody in Rienzi Overture by Richard Wagner

WEDNESDAY

Composers of the Romantic Era

JOHANESS BRAHMS1833-1897

• German Composer

• Piano major instrument

• Worked as conductor and

pianist

• Greatly admired

Beethoven

• Gained fame from his

composition of The

German Requiem and his

orchestral Variations on a

Theme by Haydn

RICHARD WAGNER 1813-1883

• German

• Wrote first play at age 14

Composed first piece at

age 15

• Among his first

successful compositions

are his operas Rienzi and

The Flying Dutchman

• Changed the face of

opera with the Ring Cycle

PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY

1840-1893• Russian composer• Considered one of the most

famous composers of all-time• He first studied law before

becoming a professional composer.

• His “1812 Overture” was influenced by the invasion of Russia by Napoleon.

• Composed more than 150 pieces of music.

• His major works include:• Sleeping Beauty• Swan Lake • The Nutcracker• Violin Concerto in D Major

THURSDAY

INSTRUMENTS

T

echnological advances improved valves and keys on Brass and

Woodwind instruments

F

irst Euphonium made in Bavaria in 1843

A

dolphe Sax patents the Saxophone in 1846

A

piano in every middle class home – demand for songs and solo

piano pieces

PROGRAM MUSIC

I

nstrumental music that tells a story or describes a scene

or feeling

T

oday….

S

leigh ride

M

ovie soundtracks!!

ANTONIN DVORAK 1841-1904

C

zech Republic Composer,

musician, teacher

P

layed viola and violin

T

raveled to America and studied

music of Native Americans and

African-Americans which

inspired some of his music.

E

xample: New World Symphony