General Characteristics of Romantic Music

1
General Characteristics of Romantic Music

• Dynamics extended, changes more frequently, less
  predictable
• Range of tempos extended, more frequent, more
  adjectives
• Melodies are longer, yearning quality, rubato
• Harmony explores further, modulations, chromatic
• Forms blur

2
Franz SchubertSong, Die Forelle (The Trout), 1817

• Equality of melody and accompaniment
• Atmosphere
• Rippling voice
• Modified strophic form

3
Fryderyk ChopinPrelude in E minor, Op. 28, for
Piano

• Modelled on Bachs Well-Tempered Clavier
• ABA form
• Static melody with steady chords constantly
  descending
• Neighbour tones

4
Schumann, Traumerei from Kinderscenen Op. 15

• Single accompanied melody
• ABA structure
• Character piece
• Dreamy atmosphere
• Melody characteristics

5
Liszt, Transcendental Etude No. 10 in F Minor

• Fifteen years old
• Demanding, virtuosic
• Unusual harmonies
• Surging

6
Giuseppe Verdi, Otello (1867)

• Tragic opera, based on Shakespeares play
• Highly lyrical
• Human drama, emotionalism, and realism
• Reference motives
• Italian nationalism

7
Johannes BrahmsFourth Movement from Symphony No.
4 in E minor (1885)

• Passacaglia
• Harmonic and melodic variation
• Unchanging length of variations
• B Section has slower tempo and new meter

8
Pucinni, Madame Butterfuly, Un bel di

• Highly lyrical
• Melodic doubling, tripling
• Fresh harmonies
• Blurring of recitative and aria
• Story
• Da Capo aria

9
Mahler, Symphony No. 2, Fourth Movement

• Programmatic (Spiritual journey)
• Yearning sense
• Large scale design
• Beethovens 5th and 9th Symphonies

10
Richard WagnerPrelude and Liebestod from Tristan
und Isolde
Leitmotif Dynamic arch form Nazism Music drama Chromaticism Yearning Bayreuth Cadential blurring Transcendental bliss
11
Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884)Symphonic Poem, The
Moldau

• Tone poem
• Descriptive, programmatic music
• Nature
• Cyclic
• Orchestral colour expanded

12
Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)First
Movement from Symphony No. 4 in F Minor

• Tone poem
• Descriptive, programmatic music
• Nature
• Cyclic
• Orchestral colour expanded

13
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)Prélude à laprès-midi
dun faune

• Impressionism
• Symbolist poet Mallarmé
• Large orchestra
• Orchestral colouring
• Opening melody is sensuous, chromatic and vague