Romantic Era Terms Flashcards
Romanticism
- origins can be traced to late 18th century literature that served as inspiration for art and music
- reaction against Classicism
- emphasis on creative imagination and expression of emotions
Exoticism in music
- important element of 19th century musical style
- fascination with foreign lands and cultures
- evoked through melody, rhythm, harmony, and orchestration
nationalism in music
- important element of 19th century musical style
- patriotism expressed through music
- influence of folk song and dance, myths, and legends, landscapes, historical events.
program music
- significant trend in 19th century music
- instrumental music with extramusical associations (literary, poetic, visual)
- descriptive title identifies the connection
- some works include a written text or program provided by the composer.
chromatic harmony
- from the greek word for color, khroma
- extensive use of notes outside the prevailing key signature
- increasingly used for heightened expression in 19th century music.
art song
- the musical setting of a poem
- for solo voice, generally with piano accompaniment
lied (plural lieder)
- the musical setting of a German poem
- for solo voice, generally with piano accompaniment
- flourished in the 19th century
durchkomponiert (through composed)
- a song structure that does not repeat entire sections of the music
- as a result, melody, harmony and piano accompaniment are able to reflect the meaning of the text as the story unfolds
polonaise
- stately polish dance in triple meter transformed by Chopin into a virtuosic piano composition
- often proud and majestic in character
- often includes characteristic rhythmic figures
rubato
- Italian for robbed time
- rhythmic flexibility- speeding up or slowing down.
- an expressive device for interpreting music
program symphony
- a 19th century multi movement orchestral work
- modelled after the 18th century symphony with programmatic elements
- includes a descriptive title
- the accompanying text often outlines the program
idee fixe
French for fixed idea
- devised by Berlioz
- a recurring theme that undergoes transformation
- serves as a unifying thread in a multi movement composition
- in symphonie fantastique, it represents the beloved
col legno
Italian for with the wood
- novel string effect used by Berlioz
- players tap the strings with the wooden parts of their bows
dies irae
-latin for day of wrath
- a monophonic chant melody dating from late Middle Ages
- drawn from the Roman Catholic requiem (mass for the dead)
- 19th century audiences would have associated the tune with funeral services
opera
- drama that is sung
- combines vocal and instrumental music with drama (staging and acting) visual arts (costume and scenery) and often dance
- components include recitative, arias, ensembles, and choruses
- originated in Italy around 1600