Romantic EraApprox. 1820 – 1900

Romantic Era Characteristics

Similarities to Classical Era:• continued to write symphonies, concertos, sonatas, and operas• kept the basic rules for these forms:

•Harmony•Structure•Rhythm•Melody•Harmonic progression•Tuning•Performance practice

Romantic Era CharacteristicsDifferences from Classical Era:• melody was most important• influence of Politics and Economics

•Advances in democracy brought power to a newly powerful middle class•Industrialism contributed to the new influence and wealth of the middle class•Founding civic concert halls and community symphony orchestras funded by the middle class

•Vienna Philharmonic (1842)•Berlin Philharmonic (1882)•New York Philharmonic (1842)•Toronto Symphony Orchestra (1922)

Berlin Philharmonic – early 20th century

Boston Symphony Hall

Romantic Era CharacteristicsDifferences from Classical Era:

• invention of Programme Music•Musical compositions intended to depict or suggest nonmusical incidents, ideas, or images, such as those drawn from literature, as Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet, or from works of art.

• invention of Absolute Music•Instrumental music that is free of any explicit verbal reference or program.

Napoléon’s attack on Moscow 1812 Fantasy- inspired Absolute Music

Romantic Era Characteristics

Differences from Classical Era:• “idea” is more important than “form” • influence of Nationalism

• cultures began to demonstrate uniqueness through public celebrations of music• music and legends from cultural past woven into symphonic pieces

View of Smetana’s Maldau River in Czechoslovakia

Peer Gynt from Edvard Grieg’s Suite

Romantic Era ComposersPyotr (Peter) Ilych Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)• born in Russia into a middle-class family• prepared for a career as a civil servant• graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1865 (against family’s wishes)• his life was punctuated by personal crises and periods of depression• the contemporary nationalistic movement drew Tchaikovsky into the group of

young Russian composers known as “The Five”• He wrote some of the most popular concert and theatrical music in the current

classical repertoire, including the ballets Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, the 1812 Overture, his First Piano Concerto, seven symphonies, and one opera.

Hector Berlioz (1803 – 1869)• born in France - was not a child prodigy - started studying music at 12 years old• never learned to play the piano & learned harmony by textbooks alone—he was

not formally trained until later• at age 18, Berlioz was sent to Paris to study medicine – discontinued, disgusted• studied composition and composed endlessly – innovated “programme music”• famous for amassing huge orchestras and choirs for legendary performances• toured & performed in European nations during rising nationalist movements• Composed symphonies (Symphonie Fantastique), masses, overtures, operas, song

collections

Bedřich Smetana (1824 – 1884)• born in Czechoslovakia• naturally gifted as a pianist - his first public performance at the age of six • his first nationalistic music was written during the 1848 Prague uprising, in which

he briefly participated - failing to establish his career in Prague - left for Sweden• more liberal political climate at home encouraged Smetana to return to Prague -

composed large scale orchestral works• appointed as director of Prague’s new city theatre – triumphs and controversy• opposition interfered with his creative work - hastened the health breakdown &

caused his resignation from the theatre in 1874. • suffered hearing loss - spent the rest of his life composing – revered as founding

father of Czech music (nationalist movement)• Compositions: 9 symphonies (#9 – The Maldau), 8 operas, piano works, string

quartettes, choral and vocal works and much more

Edvard Grieg (1843 – 1907)• born in Norway• Mother - 1st piano teacher - taught him to play from the age of 6 - gifted • sent to Germany – aged 15 – Leipzig Conservatory – disliked discipline• 1863 – moved to Copenhagen, Denmark – met many famous musicians &

composers: Liszt, Tchaikovsky• Performed in Scandinavia & northern Germany – composed using Norwegian folk

songs (Nationalism) – celebrated absolute music• Made 9 LP recordings of piano performances (still available)• Compositions: 5 sonatas for a variety of instruments, 1 piano concerto, 2 suites

(Holberg & Peer Gynt), 66 lyric pieces for piano, 4 Norwegian Dances, Symphonic Dances, Peasant Dances for piano, Songs for Male Chorus