Romantic: Features

Question 1

Dynamics (4)

Answer 1

• a lot of dynamics variation
• used to portray certain emotions
• from pianissimo do fortissimo
• accents were more common

Question 2

Harmony (4)

Answer 2

• use of chromatic harmony and extended chords
• use of dissonance
• adventurous harmonies and modulations
• harmonic shift (unpredictable)

Question 3

Tonality (3)

Answer 3

• add expression and evoke emotions through the use of dissonance
• Ambiguous tonality
• Modulation to more distant keys

Question 4

Melody (5)

Answer 4

• more lyrical with flowing lines that focused on emotional expression
• expressive melody
• chromaticism
• Virtuosic: a high level of technical skill were required to perform (complicated)
• large range in pitch

Question 5

Instrumentation (5)

Answer 5

• large orchestra
• strings - larger string section
• woodwind - flutes and piccolo, oboes and clarinets, bassoon and double bassoons
• brass - trumpets, trombones and French horns (tuba added later in the period)
• percussion - full percussion section

Question 6

Form

Answer 6

• used a bit of rondo and sonata

Question 7

Tempo

Answer 7

• use of rubato - slight speeding up and slowing down of the music (rhythmic freedom for expression)

Question 8

Texture

Answer 8

• usually homophonic (sometimes polyphonic)