Romantic Period Music (1815-1910)

Romantic Period (1815-1910)

• Classical composers of the late Classical period, like Beethoven, influenced a new generation of Romantic composers.
• Romantic composers sought to express strong emotions and ideas in their music.
• They were inspired by nature, their country's history and music, and experimented with new harmonies.
• The 19th century saw significant advancements in musical instruments, such as the piano's improved tone and expanded brass instrument ranges (with valves).

Key Composers

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): An important figure in the transition from Classical to Romantic music.
• Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840): A virtuoso violinist whose technical brilliance influenced Romantic composers. His violin solos were very challenging.
• Louis Spohr (1784-1859): A German composer and violinist, who influenced Romantic composers through his rich harmonies, combining Classical forms and expressive sounds. He wrote over 90 songs inspired by love poems and used a baton as a conductor.
• Franz Schubert (1797-1828): A prolific composer who broke away from Classical styles to create more emotional and imaginative Romantic music. He wrote a significant amount of Lieder (German art songs).
• Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826): A composer whose opera Der Freischütz (1821) was a landmark in German Romantic opera, using national folk tales and tunes.

Romantic Music Characteristics

• Emotional Expression: Romantic composers conveyed intense emotions through their music.
• New Harmonies: They experimented with new and richer harmonies, going beyond the limitations of Classical forms.
• Nature Inspiration: Nature inspired many Romantic composers and their music.
• Nationalism: Romantic composers increasingly used elements of their home countries' folk music and traditions in their works.

Historical Context

• The 19th Century saw major advancements in Europe, including industrialization, scientific developments, and colonial expansion.
• These events influenced the ideas and creativity of Romantic composers.
• Romantic art reflected the times through landscapes, national stories and more.