Romantic Music: Creation, Composers, and Instruments
How to Build Romantic Music
Romanticism seeks more emotional expression and the predominance of imagination.
- Use rich modulations, harmonies, chromaticism, and dissonance.
- The melody is still important, becoming passionate and lyrical.
- The orchestra expands greatly, especially in the horn section.
- It seeks the unity of the work with new systems such as the leitmotiv.
The Romantic Periods of Music
- First Romance: A romantic rebel, eager for freedom and novelty.
- Second Romanticism: Romanticism is represented by nationalism.
- Post-Romanticism: Time of the last romantics.
Program Symphony
Program music is a type of music that follows a theme or literary or artistic program.
Orchestral symphonic poem, inspired by poetic and descriptive elements.
It reaches unsurpassed heights of virtuosity, first with the violin and then the piano.
Romantic Orchestral Music Makers
- F. Schubert: One of the most inspiring musicians of Romanticism.
- F. Mendelssohn: Composed five symphonies. The most important are Scottish and Italian.
- R. Schumann: Also featured as a composer of piano and lieder.
- C. Frank: Great composer of organ music.
- A. Bruckner: Has nine symphonies, influenced by Beethoven and Schubert.
- J. Brahms: Late Romantic musician.
New Instruments
- Flute Piccolo: Small flute with high-pitched sounds.
- English Horn: Woodwind, double reed, melancholy sound.
- Contrabassoon: Double reed.
- Saxophone: Has different sizes, is also used in jazz.
- Tuba: Brass, very deep sound.
- Vibraphone: Latin American, plates that are played with mallets.
- Celesta: Resembles the piano, the hammers percuss metal plates.
- Harmonium: Consists of a keyboard, the wind moves the reeds and the bellows, powered with the performer’s feet.
Lied
It means “song” in German and is a short composition that sets a poem to music.
Romantic Opera in Italy: The Bel Canto
- The nineteenth-century Italian opera is one of the most glorious pages in the history of music.
- Rarely has there been such unity between creator and listener, to see on stage their concerns, hopes, and aspirations.
- The opera of this period is defined by: the beauty of the melody, great virtuosity of the voice, the presence of the choir singing, and dramatizing.
Verismo
It is a kind of opera in the late nineteenth century which aims to paint and expose reality as it is.
- Tries to describe real-life moments and primary emotions of the protagonists.
- Puccini: Author of such famous works as “La Bohème,” “Tosca,” and “Madame Butterfly.”
- Characteristics of his work: The players are humble people, his harmony is the synthesis of impressionism and the contributions of Liszt. The orchestra is very rich and complex. His melodies are beautiful and have expressive force.
Operetta
A theatrical work in which spoken passages are combined with other songs, frivolous and humorous theme.
France
- The first major figure was the German, Meyerbeer.
- Special mention to Bizet’s opera “Carmen,” a Spanish environment.
- As a composer of operettas, quote Offenbach.
Italian Theater
- It has a U-shape.
- It allowed good acoustics and visibility, and also the social hierarchy through the boxes.
- It reaches its climax with the Opera of Paris, by Charles Garnier.
German Theater
- Is the model built by Wagner in the city of Bayreuth.
- Egalitarian spirit with which all viewers are placed.
- Fan-shaped plant.
- The boxes disappear.
Zarzuela Grande
- It has three acts.
- Uses ballads and folk songs of Spanish character.
- Uses lots of strong Hispanic choirs.
- Covers topics of historical Spanish.
Género Chico
- A single act or couplets composed of ballads.
- Lower the presence of the choir.
- More Hispanic character in the presence of rhythms, harmonies, and dances.
- Subject: popular day issues.