ROMANTIC MUSIC ca.1820-1910
The Romantic era was a period of great change. While the Classical
era had strict laws of balance and restraint, the Romantic era moved away from
that by allowing artistic freedom, experimentation, and creativity.
The music tends to be very passionate with huge
great climaxes and extremes of emotion through use of contrasting dynamics and
chromatic harmonies.
The harmony becomes more complex and writing can be either polyphonic or homophonic,
but is mainly homophonic.
The orchestra becomes very large and a wide range of percussion is used. There are
smaller scale works such as the piano works of Chopin.
Music reaches a new height with virtuoso performers. Composers became Nationalistic
and included folk music in their pieces.
Ensembles: Symphonic poem, Tone poem (also called Programme Music),
Sonata, Concerto, Lied (German song ), Requiem Mass.
Composers: Tchaikowsky, Chopin
and Liszt (piano), Wagner and Puccini (opera).
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