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Romantic Period:The
Romantic Era (from ca. 1820-1900) As the many socio-political revolutions of the late eighteenth century established new social orders and new ways of life and thought, so composers of the period broke musical ground by adding a new emotional depth to the prevailing classical forms. Throughout the remainder of the nineteenth-century, artists of all kinds became intent in expressing their subjective, personal emotions. “Romanticism” derives its name from the romantics of medieval times, their long poems told stories of heroes and chivalry, of distant lands and far away places, and often of unattainable love. The romantic artists were the first in history to give themselves the name by which they were identified. The earliest Romantic composers were all born within a few years of each other in the early years of the nineteenth century. They included the great German masters Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann; the Polish poet of the piano Frederic Chopin; the French genius Hector Berloiz; and the greatest pianist showman in history, the Hungarian composer Franz Liszt. During the nineteenth century, composers from non-Germanic countries began looking for ways to express the musical soul of their homelands. Many of these Nationalist composers turned to indigenous history and legends as plots for their operas; and to the popular folk melodies and dance rhythms of their homelands as inspiration for their symphonies and instrumental music. Others developed a highly personal harmonic language and melodic style which distinguishes their music from that of the Austro-Germanic traditions. The continued modification and enhancement of existing instruments, plus the invention of new ones, led to the further expansion of the symphony orchestra throughout the century. Taking advantage of these new sounds and new instrumental combinations, the Romantic composers of the second half created richer and ever larger symphonies, ballets, and concertos. For inspiration, many Romantic composers turned to the visual arts, poetry, drama, literature, and to nature itself. Using the classical forms of sonata and symphony as a starting point, composers began focusing more on new melodic styles, richer harmonies, and ever more dissonance, in the pursuit of moving their audiences, rather than concerning themselves with the structural discipline of Classical forms. Later composers of the nineteenth century would further build on the forms and ideas developed by the Romantic composers. |
