AoS2 Romantic Concerto

Question 1

Romantic Period

Answer 1

Musical period from 1820-1900.

Question 2

Romantic Orchestra

Answer 2

Larger than Classical orchestra.

All instrumental groups were bigger including a larger percussion section.

New instruments to the orchestra included - Tuba, Cor Anglais and Bass Clarinet.

Question 3

Romantic Concerto

Answer 3

A piece of music composed for Solo instrument and Orchestra.

The Romantic Concerto was much longer than the Baroque and Classical Concertos.

Listen to this Extract from Grieg’s Piano Concerto and note the skill need to play the rapid scalic passages and the volume generated by a large Romantic Orchestra.

Question 4

Most common solo instruments in the Romantic Concerto.

Answer 4

Violin and Piano

Question 5

Cadenza

Answer 5

Section of the Concerto when the orchestra stops and the soloist demonstrates their virtuosity. (Skill).

Often written out by Romantic Composers and much longer than the Classical Cadenza which was usually improvised.

Question 6

Grieg, Bruch and Tchaikovsky

Answer 6

Romantic Composers.

Question 7

Chromatic Harmony

Answer 7

Romantic music includes chords containing tones not found in the major or minor scales (accidentals).

Listen to the complex orchestral harmony and clashing piano notes in Grieg’s Piano Concerto.

Question 8

1 / This musical extract is taken from a Romantic Concerto. From your knowledge of this style of music, identify five features which are typical of this style.

2/ What is the name of the solo instrument?

3/ Name a possible composer for this piece of music?

Answer 8

1/ Features of the Romantic Concerto include:

i/ Large Romantic orchestra.

ii/ Complex chromatic harmonies.

iii/ Extreme variations in dynamics from piano to fortissimo.

iv/ Highly expressive solo instrument using vibrato and portamento (sliding between notes).

v/ Syncopated, accented chords.

2/ Violin.

3/ Tchaikovsky (Grieg, Bruch etc)