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
libretto
-the text of an opera, oratorio or cantata
-usually written by someone other than the composer
exoticism in music
important element of 19th-century musical style
fascination with foreign lands and cultures
evoked through melody, rhythm, harmony and orchestration
aria
Italian for “air”
a solo song with accompaniment, heard in an opera, oratorio or cantata
highly emotional and often virtuosic
may have lyrical or dramatic qualities
often serves to reveal the character’s most intimate emotions
recitative
a speech-like style of singing used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas
follows inflections of the text, resulting in rhythmic flexibility
usually used to advance the plot or storyline
moves through text quickly
ostinato
Italian for “obstinate” or “persistent”
a rhythmic or melodic patterns repeated for an extended period
habanera
- cuban dance-song
- 2/4
- characteristic rhythmic motive, often used as an ostinato
