3rd Grading Module in Music 9

UNTI III: INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC OF THE ROMANTIC PERIOD

The 19th century witnessed the growth of the styles in art, literature and music we call Romantic.
An era of drama and action, Romanticism is a movement that began in France with the famous Jean-
Jacques Rousseau, poets like Goethe from Germany, and Sir Walter Scott in England.
The French revolution brought the ideals of freedom and individualism with such colour and
extravagance; A movement that believes in the power of emotion rather than the intellect.

LESSON 1: FROM CLASSICAL TO ROMANTIC MUSIC

Objectives
At the end of the lesson, all of the students are expected to:
 Describe musical elements of Romantic Period in Music.
 Relates Romantic Music to its historical and cultural background..
 Explains the performance practice (setting, composition, role of composer/performers and
audience) during the Romantic Period.
 Listens perceptively to selected Romantic Period music.
 Sings themes or melodic fragments of given Romantic Period pieces.
 Explores other arts and media that portray Romantic elements.

LEARN ABOUT IT!

It was Beethoven that bridge the gap in the transition of Music form the Classical to the
Romantic Period. His latter works made him the pioneer of Romanticism in music.
The composers of this era still served the nobles and aristocrats of Europe. Performances were
no longer intended for amateurs but demand higher skills for untrained performers. Mostly men
dominate the music scene. But names like Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn made their way as
composers and even publish their works.
Music as an industry was the main impact why composers would write music in this period.
Composers, publishers and concert managers had to sell their work so music will have a wider patronage
especially along the people living in the countryside. Unique personalities came to rose like Liszt, Berlioz,
and Wagner. Musicians with such expertise were known all over Europe and even America.
The Romantic Period (1820 – 1900) in music brought the musicians closer to discover their inner
self that let them experienced personal forms of art.

Purpose of Music
The function of music in the Romantic Period is for composers to create music that aroused and
explored human feelings. Musical forms such as the opera, ballets, symphonic poem, and piano music
are just among works of art that flourished during this time. Music was sometimes experimental. Social
dancing helped the composers advertise dance music. The best example of dance music is the waltz that
gave way for the Strauss’ fame and fortune. Church music was no longer the center of their subject
because musicians would rather cater to the audience request to earn an income.
Below are the characteristics of Romantic period music:
Elements of Music Characteristics
Rhythm - Irregular
- Complex
Melody - Full of emotion
- Tells a story/paint a picture
Harmony - Tonal
Texture - Homophonic
- Heavy, combination of vocal and instrumental music
Instrumentation/Tone Colour - Piano as an instrument is highlighted
- Orchestra
- Lied
- Opera

Dynamic symbols were indicated clearly in the Romantic Music. Terminologies were introduced
including markings on the use of metronome.
The metronome was invented by Johann Marzel, a trained musician but chose to become an
inventor. Among his inventions were the Panharmonicon, or automaphone, ear trumpets (used by
Beethoven as hearing aid), Chronometer, and Metronome.
Orchestra in the Romantic period grew to be the crowd’s favourite large ensemble. Since the
Classical period, additional instruments include English horn, clarinets, as well as brass and percussion
instruments. Aside from the instruments, an orchestra conductor emerged as a performer with the
baton on his hand.
Individualism highlighted the importance of the virtuoso artist in their period. Among those
pianists are: Beethoven, Chopin, and Liszt; together with Robert and Clara Schumann who are both
pianist and composer as well as violinist like Paganini, Berlioz, Joachim and Barhms.

Piano Music
The piano is the most popular instrument of the Romantic Era. Several piano playing were
evident in the romantic period. As piano construction improved, composers wrote music that was
difficult and challenging.
The Square pianos were manufactured in England in 1767 by John Broadwood. By then, square
keyboard was in black keys with light or white top chromatics. Since 1785, improvements in the
mechanics have been made from the string section to the volume of sound. And by 1800, the square
piano now turned into wing-shaped piano, with keyboards of white and black chromatics just like in the
modern piano. There are now 3-unison string per note and 3 pedals.
Musicians who first use pedals in compositions are Haydn, Clementi, Dussek, Field and
Beethoven.
Grand Pianos were manufactured in Paris by Erard Freres in 1796. In 1802, Dussek was the one
that initiated to place the piano sideways in concert halls so audience could view the performer’s
profile.
LIFE AND WORKS OF COMPOSERS

FRANZ LISZT
-Born: October 22, 1811
-Birthplace: Raiding, Hungary (now Austria)
-Adam Liszt –father of Franz who taught him piano.
-8 y/o –began composing
-9 y/o –first public performance
-Vienna –where Franz moved for a sponsored musical education.
-People with him in his study were:
O Carl Czerny
O Antonio Salieri
-Paris, 1823 –where he transferred at the Conservatoire but was refused because he was a foreigner
-Father’s death in 1826 –reason for him losing interestin music; he gave up touring and almost stopped
composing; sustained his mother and himself by giving piano lessons instead.
-Niccolo Paganini –1831, reignited Franz’ interest in music and inspired him to be a great virtuoso on the
piano as Paganini was in the violin.
-1833 –transcribed several pieces by Berlioz for piano including “Symphonie Fantastique”.
He started touring again by the following year of 1833 and his works were considered “Lisztomania”.
Works run as many as 700 compositions.
Symphonic poem/program music –one of his most notable contributions of his; an orchestral piece
which illustrates a poem, a story or a painting).
He suffered a declining health and the loss of his son and daughter.
Pneumonia –cause of his death on July 31, 1886.

FREDERIC CHOPIN
-Born: March 1, 1810
-Where: Warsaw, Poland
-Mother: a piano teacher
-Father: flutist and violinist
-6 y/o –started composition
-8 y/o –first public performance
-Paris –where he moved in 1831 as a Parisian musical elite.
-1832 –earned respect from Hector Berlioz and Franz Liszt because of ingenuity in music.
-Revolutionary Etude –was inspired by Poland’s failed revolution against Russia in 1831; where he
poured much of his grief caused by ruthless reprisals.
-Considered as one of the most important piano innovatorat the start of the Romantic era.
-He redefinedthe limits of the piano.
-Wrote the following:
O 59 Mazurkas
O 27 etudes
O 27 preludes
O 21 nocturnes
O 20 waltzes
-Piano music –invention of him in the romantic era.
-Teacher –was one of his occupation; he was fond of teaching works of JS Bach to his pupils; he was too
modest to ask them for money, would look away as they left the fee on the mantelpiece at the end of
the lesson.
Suffered a mysterious health problem, including hallucinations that was attributed to his genius.
Research say he suffered from epilepsy.
George Sand, 1836 –Chopin’s long affair in the year stated.
1845 –relationship terminated leaving Chopin unable to compose.
Death: 1849 from TB
Mozart’s Requiem –played at his funeral and was buried near fellow composer in a cemetery in
Paris.
His request on his deathbed:
O A handful of polish soil was strewn onto his coffin
O His heart to be taken back to his native land; his heart rests in Holy Cross Church in Warsaw.

PETER TCHAIKOVSKY
-Born: 1840 to a non-musical family
-Studied as a civil servant and entered Russian Ministry of Justice at 19 y/o
-22 y/o –his age when he started formal music education in 1862 at St. Petersburg Conservatory, first
public music school in Russia.
Considered as Russia’s first composer recognized abroad but harshly criticized by some compatriots for
being “too dependent” on Western music styles.
1812 Overture –his composition for orchestra, choir and real cannons to commemorate Russia’s victory
over Napoleonic army.
1882 –scheduled performance of the aforementioned piece at Moscow Arts and industry Exhibition;
performance never took place.
“The Nutcracker”1892–composed by Tchaikovsky but he wasn’t very convinced by this work neither
were his critics; considered as confusing, lopsided, and quite amateurish.
Ballet music –invention of Peter in the Romantic era
Depression –was his greatest struggle; he was afraid his head would fall off while he was conducting
that he would hold it up with one hand while in front of the orchestra.
He was rumored as a homosexual so he was forced to marry Antonia Milyukova, his young music
student.
Lasted marriage for only a few weeks and led Peter to a nervous breakdown.
Between 1877 and 1890 –started exchangedletters with a businesswoman and a fervent admirer
Nadezhda von Meck, she supported Tchaikovsky for thirteen years so that he could devote himself to
full-time composition.
Sixth and final symphony was first heard nine days before he died. He deemed it the best piece he’d
composed but never referred to it as the Pathetique which actually translates to Passionate from
Russian.
Death: November 5, 1893 from cholera; some historians suspect suicide, either drinking contaminated
water on purpose or by arsenic poisoning, whose symptoms resemble those of cholera