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Music HistoryMusic HistoryAn Abbreviated History

of Western Classical Music

An Abbreviated History of

Western Classical Music

The Romantic Period1820 - 1900


Nationalism Liberalism Emotionalism

Nationalism Liberalism Emotionalism

The Romantic Period was a time of “isms:”



Significant Events: American Civil War Invention of the telephone, telegraph,

photograph, railway, steamboat Rise of capitalism and socialism

Significant Events: American Civil War Invention of the telephone, telegraph,

photograph, railway, steamboat Rise of capitalism and socialism



Achievements in science: Louis Pasteur

Pasteurization process Samuel F. B. Morse

Morse Code Charles Darwin

Theory of evolution Thomas A. Edison

Invented light bulb, telegraph, phonograph, microphone, etc.)

Achievements in science: Louis Pasteur

Pasteurization process Samuel F. B. Morse

Morse Code Charles Darwin

Theory of evolution Thomas A. Edison

Invented light bulb, telegraph, phonograph, microphone, etc.)



Achievements in literature: Leo Tolstoy (War and Peace)

Herman Melville (Moby Dick)

Mark Twain (Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer)

Charles Dickens (Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol)

Achievements in literature: Leo Tolstoy (War and Peace)

Herman Melville (Moby Dick)

Mark Twain (Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer)

Charles Dickens (Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol)

Musical CharacteristicsMusical Characteristics

Very expressive, emotional, tense, moody Melody, harmony, and rhythm explored to

their fullest yet Greater interest (by composers) in wind

instruments Emphasis on the virtuoso performer Nationalism

Composers incorporated native folk songs and styles into their music

Program music Russia was the leader of this movement

Very expressive, emotional, tense, moody Melody, harmony, and rhythm explored to

their fullest yet Greater interest (by composers) in wind

instruments Emphasis on the virtuoso performer Nationalism

Composers incorporated native folk songs and styles into their music

Program music Russia was the leader of this movement

Important InstrumentsImportant Instruments

Trombone and tuba first used in the symphony orchestra

Valves added to trumpets and French horns Metal keys added to all woodwinds Saxophone invented in 1840 by Adolfe Sax Improvements made to the piano

Steel frame Thicker strings Pedal mechanism improved

Trombone and tuba first used in the symphony orchestra

Valves added to trumpets and French horns Metal keys added to all woodwinds Saxophone invented in 1840 by Adolfe Sax Improvements made to the piano

Steel frame Thicker strings Pedal mechanism improved

Instrumental Musical Forms

Instrumental Musical Forms

Romantic Symphony Longer, additional movements

Program symphony Depicts scenes in nature or tells a story

Tone Poem One long movement

Programmatic (tells a story through music)

Concert Overture Grew out the popularity of opera overtures

Romantic Symphony Longer, additional movements

Program symphony Depicts scenes in nature or tells a story

Tone Poem One long movement

Programmatic (tells a story through music)

Concert Overture Grew out the popularity of opera overtures

Symphony No. 6, op. 68 “Pastoral”By

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Symphony No. 6, op. 68 “Pastoral”By


Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony

Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony

Sonata Form - expanded to five movements

I. Awakening of joyous feelings upon arrival in the

country. Allegro ma non troppo

II. By the brook. Andante molto mosso

III. Happy gathering of country folk. Allegro

IV. Thunderstorm; Storm. Allegro

V. Shepherd's song; cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm. Allegretto

Sonata Form - expanded to five movements

I. Awakening of joyous feelings upon arrival in the

country. Allegro ma non troppo

II. By the brook. Andante molto mosso

III. Happy gathering of country folk. Allegro

IV. Thunderstorm; Storm. Allegro

V. Shepherd's song; cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm. Allegretto

Symphony No. 9, op. 125 “Choral”By


Symphony No. 9, op. 125 “Choral”By


Beethoven’s Ninth SymphonyBeethoven’s Ninth Symphony

The symphony is in four movements, marked as follows:

1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso

2. Molto vivace

3. Adagio molto e cantabile

4. Presto/recitative - Allegro ma non troppo/recitative - Vivace/recitative - Adagio cantabile/recitative - Allegro assai/recitative - Presto/recitative: "O Freunde" - Allegro assai: "Freude, schöner Götterfunken" - Alla marcia - Allegro assai vivace: "Froh, wie seine Sonnen" - Andante maestoso: "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!" - Adagio ma non troppo, ma divoto: "Ihr, stürzt nieder" - Allegro energico, sempre ben marcato: "Freude, schöner Götterfunken" / "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!" - Allegro ma non tanto: "Freude, Tochter aus Elysium!" - Prestissimo: "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!"

The symphony is in four movements, marked as follows:

1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso

2. Molto vivace

3. Adagio molto e cantabile

4. Presto/recitative - Allegro ma non troppo/recitative - Vivace/recitative - Adagio cantabile/recitative - Allegro assai/recitative - Presto/recitative: "O Freunde" - Allegro assai: "Freude, schöner Götterfunken" - Alla marcia - Allegro assai vivace: "Froh, wie seine Sonnen" - Andante maestoso: "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!" - Adagio ma non troppo, ma divoto: "Ihr, stürzt nieder" - Allegro energico, sempre ben marcato: "Freude, schöner Götterfunken" / "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!" - Allegro ma non tanto: "Freude, Tochter aus Elysium!" - Prestissimo: "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!"

Symphonie FantastiqueBy

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

Symphonie FantastiqueBy

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

Symphony FantastiqueSymphony FantastiqueThe symphony is a piece of program music which tells the story of "an artist gifted with a lively imagination" who has "poisoned himself with opium" in the "depths of despair" because of "hopeless love." There are five movements, which was unconventional for a symphony at the time:

1. Rêveries - Passions (Dreams - Passions)2. Un bal (A Ball)3. Scène aux champs (Scene at the Country)4. Marche au supplice (March to the Scaffold)5. Songe d'une nuit de sabbat (Dream of a Witches' Sabbath)

The symphony is a piece of program music which tells the story of "an artist gifted with a lively imagination" who has "poisoned himself with opium" in the "depths of despair" because of "hopeless love." There are five movements, which was unconventional for a symphony at the time:

1. Rêveries - Passions (Dreams - Passions)2. Un bal (A Ball)3. Scène aux champs (Scene at the Country)4. Marche au supplice (March to the Scaffold)5. Songe d'une nuit de sabbat (Dream of a Witches' Sabbath)

Barber of Seville OvertureWilliam tell Overture

By Gioacchino Antonio Rossini (1782-1868)

Barber of Seville OvertureWilliam tell Overture

By Gioacchino Antonio Rossini (1782-1868)

The NutcrackerBy

Peter Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

The NutcrackerBy

Peter Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Morning and In the Hall of the Mountain King

From Peer GyntBy

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)

Morning and In the Hall of the Mountain King

From Peer GyntBy

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)Norway’s greatest composer

German OperaGerman OperaRichard Wagner (ree-card

vahgner)1813-1883

Richard Wagner (ree-card vahgner)

1813-1883The Ring of the Nibelungen

Das Rheingold

Die Walküre

Siegfried

Götterdämmerung

Wagner’s RingWagner’s Ring Composed from 1848 to 1874 and produced

theatrically for the first time in 1876, The

Ring represents major turning points in the

history of opera, as well as in orchestral music,

the art of singing and the production of operas.

Use of the leit motif

Comparisons to modern films

Composed from 1848 to 1874 and produced

theatrically for the first time in 1876, The

Ring represents major turning points in the

history of opera, as well as in orchestral music,

the art of singing and the production of operas.

Use of the leit motif

Comparisons to modern films

The EndThe End

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