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Questions and Answers
Who bridged the gap in the transition of music from the Classical to the Romantic period?
Ludwig van Beethoven
Which composers are mentioned as having notable contributions to Romantic music?
What was the main reason composers wrote music during the Romantic period?
Music as an industry
Which musical forms flourished during the Romantic period?
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Music during the Romantic period (1820-1900) made the musicians discover their _____ self.
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Who was both a virtuoso pianist and a composer associated with the Romantic music era?
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What tragic event influenced Camille Saint-Saëns's later works?
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What is one of Hector Berlioz's famous works?
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Which of the following characteristics describe the Romantic period music?
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Study Notes
Overview
- The text provides an overview of Romantic music, contrasting it with the Classical period.
Ludwig van Beethoven
- Beethoven bridged the transition from Classical to Romantic music.
- His later works are considered pioneering in Romanticism.
Romantic Music
- Romantic music composers served European nobility and aristocrats.
- Performances demanded higher skills from untrained performers.
- Men dominated the music scene, but composers like Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn made their mark.
- Music became a significant industry during this period.
- Composers, publishers, and concert managers sought wider patronage, especially in rural areas.
- Romantic music (1820-1900) encouraged musicians to explore their inner selves.
- Romantic musicians focused on personal forms of artistic expression.
Purpose of Music
- Romantic composers sought to evoke and explore human emotions.
- Popular musical forms included opera, ballet, symphonic poem, and piano music.
- Music was sometimes experimental.
- Social dancing promoted dance music, exemplified by the waltz, which contributed to the fame and fortune of the Strauss Family.
- Church music lost its central importance as musicians prioritized audience demand to earn income.
Characteristics of Romantic Period Music
- Rhythm: Irregular, complex.
- Melody: Full of emotion, storytelling, or pictorial representation.
- Harmony: Tonal, homophonic.
- Texture: Heavy, combining vocal and instrumental music, highlighting the piano as an instrument.
- Instrumentation/Tone Color: Orchestral.
- Musical Forms: Lied (art song), opera.
Composers of Instrumental Music
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
- Began piano lessons at age two and performed publicly at age ten.
- Studied organ and composition at the Paris Conservatory at age 13.
- Achieved recognition and support from prominent musicians in his early twenties.
- His two sons died six weeks apart, a significant personal tragedy.
- He produced famous works like "Danse Macabre" (1874) and "Samson and Delilah" (1877) during this time.
- Renowned as both a virtuoso pianist and composer.
- Famous works include "Carnival of the Animals," "The Swan," operas, symphonies, and concertos.
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
- Learned to play flute and guitar at a young age.
- Initially studied medicine but abandoned it for his love of music.
- Known for his program symphony compositions.
- "Symphonie Fantastique" narrates his personal views on life and love.
- Other notable works include "The Trojans," the choral work "The Damnation of Faust," and overtures like "Le Carnaval Romain."
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