Romantic Period Music Flashcards

Romantic Music

• An era of Western classical music that began in the late 18th or early 19th century, linked to the broader Romanticism movement.
• Romantic music became more expressive, focusing on literature, art, and philosophy.
• Prominent composers included Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Bellini, and Berlioz.

Ludwig van Beethoven

• Born around December 16, 1770, in Bonn, Germany.
• Widely regarded as the greatest composer of all time.
• Pioneered innovations in sonatas, symphonies, concertos, and quartets.
• Struggled with deafness; composed significant works in his later years.
• Died in 1827 at the age of 56.

Johannes Brahms

• Born on May 7, 1833, in Hamburg, Germany.
• Master of symphonic and sonata styles during the late 19th century.
• Viewed as a continuation of the Classical tradition established by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Franz Liszt

• Born on October 22, 1811, in Raiding, Hungary.
• A child prodigy who started performing at age 9.
• Authored over 700 compositions and revolutionized modern piano techniques.

Robert Schumann

• Born on June 8, 1810, in Zwickau, Germany.
• Known for his piano music, songs (lieder), and orchestral compositions.
• Many works were dedicated to his wife, pianist Clara Schumann.
• Died on July 29, 1856.

Frédéric Chopin

• Born on March 1, 1810, in the Duchy of Warsaw.
• Renowned for solo piano music with unparalleled technical skill.
• A child prodigy who left Poland at 20, shortly before the November Uprising.
• Died on October 17, 1849.

Mikhail Glinka

• Born on June 1, 1804, and died on February 15, 1857.
• The first Russian composer recognized in his homeland; often called the father of Russian classical music.
• Influenced later Russian composers and initiated a distinct Russian musical identity.

Edvard Grieg

• Born in June 1843 and died on September 4, 1907.
• A significant composer who integrated Norwegian folk music into his works.
• His compositions fostered national identity and are widely celebrated, including his contributions to the standard classical repertoire.

Giuseppe Verdi

• Born on October 9 or 10, 1813, and died on January 27, 1901.
• Italian opera composer, dominating the opera scene post-Bellini, Donizetti, and Rossini.
• Famous operas include "Rigoletto," "Il trovatore," and "La traviata."

The Russian Five (The Mighty Handful)

• A group of five Russian composers: César Cui, Aleksandr Borodin, Mily Balakirev, Modest Mussorgsky, and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
• Formed in the 1860s to establish a genuine Russian musical identity, moving away from European influences.

César Antonovich Cui

• Russian composer and military officer of French, Polish, and Lithuanian descent.
• Known for promoting a uniquely Russian music style as part of The Russian Five.

Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky

• A composer who contributed to defining Russian music through works based on folklore and history.
• Notable compositions include "Boris Godunov," "Night on Bald Mountain," and "Pictures at an Exhibition."

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

• A prominent Russian composer and orchestrator within The Russian Five.
• Renowned for “Capriccio Espagnol,” “Russian Easter Festival Overture,” and “Scheherazade.”
• Merged Russian musical elements with Western techniques.

Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin

• A composer of Georgian origin, also a doctor and chemist.
• Known for his symphonic works and the opera "Prince Igor."
• Advocated for women's education and founded a medical school for women.

Mily Balakirev

• Conductor and composer who advanced musical nationalism in Russia.
• Helped unify The Russian Five and influenced contemporaries like Tchaikovsky.
• Promoted folk music integration with classical styles.