Romantic Period Flashcards
Key points about songs
Three types of Songs: Strophic Through Composed Modified Strophic Lied most popular form of song Song Cycles
Song structure
Strophic:
Same Melody used in each line of the song
Common forms of strophic writing would be hymns, carols, most fold songs and popular songs
Through composed:
Music changes throughout the piece to follow the story of the words
Modified Strophic:
A combination of the above, mostly strophic but may have a section which is different to allow the music to adapt to the music
The lied
Plural of Lied is Lieder
Composers wrote groups of lied called Song cycles based on a common theme linking them together
key points about absolute music
Covers Symphonies, Concerto and chamber music
Changes to the structure of multi movement work
Key features of romantic symphonies
Classical conventions not always followed in Romantic period
Most symphonies still four movements but many exceptions
Key points about the romantic opera
Distinct National Styles – Italy, Germany & France
Opera Seria & Opera Buffa stull favoured in Italy
Germany – genre of Singspiel (light, comic drama with spoken dialogue)
Wagner- Serious Opera the Ring Cycle (4 operas) introduced the Leitmotif also called Music Drama
overview of romantic period
Composers: Beethoven, Schubert, Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schuman, Chopin, Liszt, Berlioz, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Wagner
Melody: Expansive with chromatic inflection
Rhythm: Complex and diverse, use of rubato and changes of tempo
Harmony: Chromaticism, expanded concepts of tonality
Texture: Homophonic with polyphony in later works
Instrumental Genre: Symphonic Poem, Solo Piano works
Vocal Genre: Works for solo voice and piano/orchestra
Form: Expansion of existing forms, continues forms
Dynamics: Wide ranging dynamics for expressive purposes
Timbre: Expansion and blending of new instrument combinations, new instruments (cor anglais, valued brass, harp, piccolo) much larger orchestra
Historical context for romantic music
French Revolution: rise in the middle class
Industrial revolution: technical advances led to better instrument making techniques and new instruments
Education: Music conservatories
Composers: used nationalistic, folklore and exotic subjects
Rise of female composers: Clara Schumann & Fanny Mendelssohn
Key points about programme music
Instrumental music with a literary or pictorial association Absolute music Four types: Concert Overture Incidental music Programme Symphony (Multi movement work) Symphonic Poem Idee fixe (Berlioz) recurring theme throughout a multi movement
Key features about piano music
Technical advancements lead to the development of the Grand Piano and a more reliable piano action
Short lyrical pieces
Chopin only wrote for the Piano
Types of piano works:
Etudes, Nocturnes, Preludes, Mazurkas, Polonaises, Sonatas and Concertos
