Romantic 1820 - 1900

Romantic 1820 - 1900

1. Early 1820 - 1850

   • Chromatic harmonies
   • Expressive
   • Medium Orchestra
   • Clear structures
   • Modulations to unrelated keys

2. Late 1850 - 1900

   • Large Orchestra
   • Increased chromaticism
   • Wider dynamic range
   • More adventurous

3. Composers

   • Early
     • Beethoven
     • Chopin
     • Schubert
     • Schumann
     • Mendessohn
     • Berlioz
   • Late
     • Brahms
     • Borodin
     • Verdi
     • Wagner
     • Dvorak
     • Grieg
     • Tchaikovsky
     • Rachmaninov

4. Choral

   • Mendelssohn Berlioz Faure
   • Masses and motets but far more emotive
   • Strong dissonances at times
   • Sometimes a capella

5. Opera

   • Early: Rossini
   • Late: Bizet (French) Verdi, Puccini (Italian) Wagner (German)
   • Links with drama and emotion
   • Late opera flourished in Europe with leitmotif

6. Vocal

   • Lied
     • Schumann Schubert
     • Solo voice and piano
     • German
     • Though composed or Strophic
     • Voice and piano equal (piano sets atmosphere)
   • Song Cycle
     • Shubert Schumann
     • Groups of songs linked by a theme or an author
     • Piano accomp

7. Chamber

   • Piano Sonata
     • Beethoven Schubert
     • Sudden contrasts
     • Scale and arpeggio movement
   • Violin Sonata
     • Schubert
     • Piano accomp
     • Lots of contrasts
   • String Quartet/Quintet
     • Schubert
     • Violin x2, Viola, Cello
     • Double bass or violin added in Quintet
   • Late Chamber
     • Dvorak Tchaikovsky
     • Same genres but more experimental with instruments (flutes, oboes, bassoons, French horns)
     • Piano quintet
       • Brahms
       • Piano and string quartet

8. Piano (miniatures)

   • Prelude
     • Chopin
     • 'Came before'
     • Improv feel - rubato
     • Semi-quavers
   • Nocturne
     • Chopin
     • 'Night music'
     • Expressive and calm
     • Melody against arpeg or chords
     • Rubato, suspensions and fiorature
   • Ballade
     • Chopin
     • Long dramatic and contrasting
     • Difficult and expressive
   • Mazurka
     • Chopin
     • Polish Dance
     • Triple time emphasis on beat 2
     • Recognised by rhythm
   • Song Without Words
     • Mendelssohn
     • Short with melody played cantabile
     • Arpeg accomp

9. Orchestral

   • Early Symphony
     • Beethoven Mendelssohn Schubert
     • Sometimes with Choir
     • Related keys but wide change of moods
   • Late Symphony
     • Brahms Dvorak Tchaikovsky Bruckner
     • Wider range of keys
     • Larger Orchestra
     • More mvts sometimes
   • Concerto
     • Schumann Brahms Tchaikovsky
     • 3/4 mvts less common
     • Sometimes fight between orch and Solo
     • Increased virtuosity