Music of the

Romantic Period
1820-1910
Ms. Joana Marie M. Bernasol
Bro. Andrew Gonzalez Technical High School
 Romantic Period
•Is described as a cultural
movement that stressed emotion,
imagination, individualism and
freedom of expression.
 Characteristics
•Use of extreme expressions and
emotions.
•A freedom in composing.
•Expansion of the orchestra
 Characteristics
•Emphasis on lyrical melodies.
•Love, nature, religion and
nationalism are its main themes.
 Characteristics
•It focused on the meaning and
purpose behind the music and its
main objective was to get an
emotional reaction from its
audience.
 Features
Nationalism Exoticism
• composers used • Uses influences from
materials from the foreign lands in their
history of their compositions.
native country to
highlight their
culture.
 Romantic Period
•lyrical, poetic,
Harmony emotional and
and Melody expressive.
•chromatic
 Romantic Period
• Compound rhythm
• Free rhythm
Rhythm and • Extensive use of accelerandos
and ritardandos
Tempo
• Rubato or the subtle rhythmic
• manipulation and nuance
became popular.
 Romantic Period
• frequent use of crescendos
and decrescendos
Dynamics • Extreme use of ff (very loud)
to ffff (as loudly as possible);
and pp (very soft) to pppp (as
softly as possible)
 Romantic Period
•Diverse mood and
emotions
Texture
•Enlargement of
orchestra to a
richer tone color.
 Romantic Period
•Diverse mood and
emotions
Texture
•Enlargement of
orchestra to a
richer tone color.
 Music of the
Romantic Period
Vocal Forms
 Art Song
• a composition for a solo voice or
piano.
•vocal piece or work that place great
importance on the written text or
symbolic meaning of the text
 Symphonic Poem
• Also called “Tone Poem” developed by
Franz Liszt.
•An orchestral piece that portrayed a
story or had a literary or artistic
background.
 Music of the
Romantic Period
Instrumental Music
 Piano
• Invented by BARTOLOMEO
CRISTOFORI.
•It can produced both soft and loud
sound unlike harpsichord and the
organ.
String Instruments
•Classical instruments were still used.
• Grew in number to balance the sound
from the other group of the
instruments.
 Woodwind
Instruments
•Composers added the flute,
clarinet, oboe, English horn and
piccolo
 Brass-Percussion
Instruments
•gongs, bass drum and snare drums
were added.
•Timpani is always used in the
orchestra.
 Program Music
• Is the unique feature of
instrumental forms
•Conveys images or scenes, music that
tells a short story without text or
lyrics and imaginative ideas
 Music of the
Romantic Period
Famous Composers
Violin and String Music

Niccolo Paganini
• born on October 27,
1782, Italy
• At age 5, he plays
mandolin
• At age 7, he
transferred his
training in violin
• became the famous
violin virtuoso in
the world.
 Niccolo Paganini
Famous Works:

• La Campanella
• 24 Caprices for solo
violin, Op.6
• Concerto No. 1 in Eb, Op.6
• 15 quartets for guitar
and strings trio
• The Carnival of Venice
Piano Music

Frederic Chopin
• Born on March 1,
1810, Poland.
• was known as the
“Poet of the Piano”.
• Was considered
world renowned
pianist and
composer.
 Piano Music

Frederic Chopin
• At age 4, he began to play
piano.
• At age 7, composed Polonaise.
• Studied piano at Warsaw
Conservatory under Wilhelm
Wurfel, and his music
influenced by polish folk
music.
• Traveled to Europe giving
concerts in Vienna, Munich,
Paris, and London.
• He wrote exclusively for piano.
 Piano Music

Frederic Chopin
• He met and married the
famous French writer
George Sand
• In the latter part of his
life, he was diagnosed
with pulmonary
tuberculosis
• Chopin died on October 17,
1849 in Paris
• His compositions express
his love for Poland
Piano Music

Piano Works
• Ballade – A verse form usually consisting of three stanzas of
eight or ten lines.
• Etude – a piece composed for the development of a specific
point of technique.
• Mazurka – A polish dance
• Nocturne – an instrumental composition of a pensive, dreamy
mood.
• Polonaise – A stately, march like Polish dance, promenade
• Prelude – an introductory performance, event, or action
• Waltz – a piece of music for this dance
• Sonata – composition for one or solo instruments
 Frederic Chopin
Famous Works:

• Fantaisie in F minor, Op.

49
• Revolutionary Etude
• Op. 10, No.1 2
• 24 Preludes, Op.28
 Piano Music

Franz Liszt
• Born in Hungary
• known as the virtuoso pianist and
composer and the busiest
musicians during the Romantic
Period
• At age 6, understands sight
reading through the effort of his
father.
• Dedicated himself doing piano
music.
• People consider him as a generous
composer by sharing both time and
money to the orphans, victim of
disasters and taught music to
many students for free
 Franz Liszt
Famous Works:

• Grand Etudes after Paganini

• 12 transcendental etudes
• Sonata in B minor
• Years of Pilgrimage (3 vol.)
• Operatic Fantaisie
• Arrangements of the 9
• Beethoven Symphonies
• Hungarian Rhapsodies
 Piano Music

Robert Schumann
• born in 1810 at Zwickau
• famous composer that worked
intensively between music
and words
• Was a composer, and
considered himself as the heir
to the original creative
tradition of Beethoven and
Schubert.
• In 1834, he founded music
journal where he edited and
wrote numerous works for his
publication
 Robert Schumann
Famous Works:

• Abegg Variations, Opus 1

• Davidsbundler stanze, Opus 6
(Dances of the Band of David)
• Carnaval, Opus 9 - a portrait
of a masked ball attended by
his allies and his beloved
Clara.
• Phantasiestucke, Opus 12 – a
series of mood pieces
 Robert Schumann
Famous Works:

• Kreisleriana, Opus 16 – a fantasy of the mad Kapellmeister

• Kinderszenen, Opus 15 – a poetic series of evocations of a
child’s world.
He wrote over 100 songs Orchestral Music
• Frauenliebe und Leben Piano Concerto in A minor,
• Dichterliebe Opus 54
Finale, Opus 52
Program Music

Hector Berloiz
•Born on December
11, 1803.
•is a French
Romantic
composer.
•At young age, he
learns to play
guitar and flute.
 Hector Berloiz
Famous Work: Symphonie Fantastique
MOVEMENT TITLE TEMPO FORMS
1ST MOVEMENT Reveries/Passion Largo (slow introduction) Allegro
agitato e appasionado assai
(agitated and very impassioned
allegro)

2ND MOVEMENT A Ball Allegro non troppo The second ABA form
movement is a waltz

3RD MOVEMENT Scene in the Country Adagio Waltz ABA Coda Form
4TH MOVEMENT March to the Scaffold Allegretto non troppo Composed of two
different themes
5TH MOVEMENT Dream of a Witches Larghetto Allegro Most fantastic of the
Sabbath movement
 Program Music

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

• Born on May 7, 1840, Russia
• Was known for his ballet
music
• Studied law and became law
clerk in St. Petersburg
• Study music at the
conservatory, St. Petersburg.
• continued his music career in
New York and conducted his
works and experienced deal of
fame
• Died due to cholera
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Famous Works:
• Fatum
• Romeo and Juliet
• Swan lake
• Sleeping Beauty
• The Nutcracker
• 1812 Overture
• Symphony No.2
• Symphony No.6
• Piano Concerto No.1
 Program Music

Camille Saint-Saens
• Born on October 9, 1835,
Paris
• At age 2, started music
and play piano
• At age 3, began
composing piano piece.
• Considered as a composer
who creates elegant
music, neat, polished.
• An organist and the best
pianist of his time
 Camille Saint-Saens
Famous Works:
• Carnival of the animals
• Danse Macabre and his Symphony No.9
• The Swan
Over 300 works:
• 3 operas
• 5 symphonies
• 3 concertos for violin and orchestra
• 5 concertos for piano & orchestra