Romantic Time Period (1820-1900)

1. Romantic Time Period (1820-1900) Romanticism was an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe toward the end of the 18th century

2. Romantic Time Period (1820-1910) • Confusion in dates? • There is a transition time between time periods. You can see characteristics from both time periods • The Romantic era grew out of the social and political upheavals that followed the French Revolution • This new society placed a lot of emphasis on the individual (individualism)

3. What was Romanticism? • The movement placed strong emphasis on emotions such as apprehension and terror • It elevated folk art and ancient customs • It made spontaneity a desirable characteristic • Romanticism reached beyond the Classicist ideas • It attempted to embrace the exotic and unfamiliar • It harnessed the power of the imagination

4. Slogan: “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” • What do each of these words mean? • Liberty? • Equality? • Fraternity?

5. Slogan: “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” • What do each of these words mean? • Liberty-right to choose, Freedom • Equality – State of being equal; equal to all others in a specific group • Fraternity – brotherly love; feelings of friendship and mutual support between people

6. Romanticism in Music The Arts mirror the profound changes that were taking place during this time period

7. Improvements to Instruments • The industrial revolution brought about means to create better instruments. • The cost to make the instruments was cheaper • More responsive instruments • Technical improvements • The addition of valves to brass instruments-made playing the instruments much easier • New instruments created • Tuba • Saxophone

8. Piano • Golden age of the piano • Most households had a piano • Originally called the pianoforte because it had the ability to play both loud (forte) and soft (piano). Later shorted to just piano. • Piano had a cast-iron frame • Thicker strings gave it a deeper and more brilliant tone • Easier to tune. More tension on the strings. • Steinway piano company was very popular. Still is today.

9. Broadening Educational Opportunities • New conservatories were established • Conservatory-an institution or school where students are taught one of the arts, most commonly music or drama, to a professional standard • As a result of more conservatories, composers could count on having performers with greater capabilities and higher skill levels. • Could write more difficult music.

10. Orchestras • Increased in size. • This gave composers a more varied and colorful means of expression • New instruments (different timbres) • Piccolo • English horn • Contrabassoon • These instruments expanded the range of the orchestra. They could play extremely high and also extremely low notes • Dynamic range increased • Added drama

11. Musical Language • Helped composers communicate their exact intentions of how the music should be played • Dolce – sweetly • Cantabile – songful • Dolente – weeping • Mesto – Sad • Maestoso – Majestic • Con Amore – with love, tenderly

12. Romantic Music Traits • Tried to make the instruments “sing” • Lyrical Melodies • Emotional and Expressive • Expanded instrumental forms • A symphony by Haydn or Mozart takes about 20 minutes to perform. One by a Romantic composer may take twice as long • There was meaning behind the music • Meditations of life and death • Human destiny • God and nature • Pride in one’s country • Political struggles • Ultimate triumph over good and evil

13. Franz Schubert • Born in a suburb of Vienna • Son of a schoolmaster • Learned to play the violin from his father and the piano from an older brother • Beautiful singing voice • Was a Vienna Choir boy • His teacher were astonished at his musical abilities, especially since he was very shy • He tried to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a teacher, but teaching was not for him • He found his escape through music • One of his friends commented “Everything he touched turned to song.”

14. Franz Schubert • He had a very difficult life. Suffered from syphilis and was usually pressed for money. He sold a lot of his music for less than what it was worth. • He died when he was only 31. • His dying wish was to be buried near the master he worshipped above all others –Beethoven. His wish was granted. • He wrote over 600 songs • He could write these songs very quickly. Sometimes he would write 5, 6 or 7 in a single morning.

15. Erlking • Franz Schubert’s most famous song was “Erlking” • This song gave him immediate public recognition • This song is based on the legend of the “Elf King” • If the Elf King touches a human, they will die. • The Elf King seeks vengeance on humans to get revenge for his daughter. • The eerie atmosphere of the poem is immediately established by the piano. • The poem has 4 characters: the narrator, the father, the child, and the Elf King • It is all sung with the same voice. He changes his voice for each character. • The boy is terrified and the father is trying to calm him, and the Elf King is scary and dark.

16. Erlking "Do you want to come with me, pretty boy?My daughters shall wait on you finely;My daughters will lead the nightly dance,And rock and dance and sing you to sleep.""My father, my father, and don't you see thereThe Elfking's daughters in the gloomy place?""My son, my son, I see it clearly:There shimmer the old willows so grey.""I love you, your beautiful form entices me;And if you're not willing, then I will use force.""My father, my father, he's grabbing me now!The Elfking has done me harm!"It horrifies the father; he swiftly rides on,He holds the moaning child in his arms,Reaches the farm with trouble and hardship;In his arms, the child was dead Who rides, so late, through night and wind?It is the father with his child.He has the boy well in his armHe holds him safely, he keeps him warm."My son, why do you hide your face so anxiously?""Father, do you not see the Elfking?The Elfking with crown and tail?""My son, it's a wisp of fog.""You dear child, come, go with me!Very lovely games I'll play with you;Some colourful flowers are on the beach,My mother has some golden robes.""My father, my father, and don't you hearWhat the Elfking quietly promises me?""Be calm, stay calm, my child;The wind is rustling through withered leaves."

17. Robert Schumann • Born in Germany • His mother insisted that he attend law school. While he was in law school he decided he had a passion for music, and his ambition was to become a pianist. • He had a very late start with piano lessons and practiced intensively to make up for the missed time. • He never became the great pianist he had hoped to become. Possibly because of his late start, but he also had some physical handicap with his right hand. • Instead of becoming a pianist, he turned to composition.

18. Robert Schumann • Married Clara who was a pianist • The 2 musicians worked side by side. • Clara was part of the reason he became so popular. Robert would write the music and Clara would play it on the piano. • Robert was very ill suited for public life. • He had a lot of problems such as hallucinations • In a fit a depression, he attempted suicide by throwing himself into the Rhine River. • He died at the age of 46.

19. Frederic Chopin • Nickname “Poet of the Piano” • National composer of Poland • Fell in love with a novelist named George Sand • He was most productive while married to her • Eventually their relationship ran its course and they parted ways • He died of tuberculosis at the age of 39. • They played his very own “Funeral March” at his funeral. • Best known work : Nocturne in C minor

20. Musical Nationalism • Nationalism – Patriotism, proud loyalty or devotion to a nation • Nationalism in music was expressed in many ways • Songs and dance of their culture • Folklore or peasant life • Celebration of national heroes, historic events • Scenic beauty of their country • Nationalistic music was so important to the people that often times if a country had been capture or was run by another nation, they were forbidden to play their nationalistic music. • Nazi’s in WWII forbade the people of Warsaw to play Chopin’s music because of the powerful symbolism behind the words.

21. Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884) • Nationalistic composer from Bohemia (Czech Republic) • Lived while Bohemia was struggling under Austrian rule • Wrote “Ma Vlast” (My Country) • This work was inspired by the beauty of Bohemia’s countryside • Second Movement “The Moldau” – one of Bohemia’s rivers • Rippling streams that flow through the forest to the mighty river • Hunting scene with French horns • Peasant wedding • Fairy-tale setting • Finally approaches the capital city of Prague, it flows past the castles and fortresses • Goes out to the sea and fades away

22. Richard Wagner • Most important figure in the German opera • He was mostly self-taught. He only received about 6 months of instruction in music theory • When he was 20 he abandoned his academic studies and obtained a position as chorus master in a small opera house. • Wagner did away with the old opera. He wanted to create a “continuous fabric of melody that would never allow the emotions to cool.”

23. Giuseppe Verdi • ItalianRomantic composer primarily known for his operas • Guiseppe Verdi -- "Joe Green," in Italian • Born during a time of war in Italy (Napolean Bonaparte was gaining control of the area of Italy) • Italian patriot. His music became part of the Italian fight for independence and unity.

24. Peter Tchaikovsky • Russian • Son of government official and also pursued a career in the government. He resigned at age 23. Entered the Conservatory at St. Petersburg • He completed his music courses in 3 years and was immediately recommended for a teaching post in the new Moscow Conservatory. • He was a very sensitive man. Suffered a lot from depression. • Music was his outlet • He considered himself a nationalistic composer. He said “I am Russian through and through!”

25. Peter Tchaikovsky • Best known work is The Nutcracker • Includes many dances, especially the waltz • Many performers complained that the music was too complicated to dance to • Dance of Sugar Plum Fairy • Russian Dance • Arabian Dance • Full Ballet