1820 – 1900 Romantic Period

Q4 – Spring 2006

THE ROMANTIC PERIOD

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• 1820 – 1900

• Stressed emotion, imagination, &

individualism

• Reaction against the bondage of the

patronage system and “rules” of

composing in Classical period

CONT.

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• Composers not able to make as

much $ bc they weren’t working for

the aristocracy.

• Worked on the side as teachers,

conductors, music critics, soloists

THE MUSIC

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Was mostly written for the middle class

by middle-class composers

1. Emphasis: self-expression, individual

style

2. Subjects: fantastic or dream-like

characters, nature

CONT.

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3. Nationalism – a specific national

identity. Composers used folksongs,

legends, their country’s history as

subjects.

CONT.

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4. Exoticism – dealing with far-away lands

and their exotic natures.

5. Program Music – Music that tells a

story, or is based on an idea or scene.

CONT.

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6. Pieces became MUCH longer.

> A symphony in the Classical era might

take 15 minutes. A Romantic era

symphony might take 2 hours+.

THE LIED

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• German “song”

• Short, descriptive piece for solo singer

with piano

• Example: The Erlking by Franz

Schubert

THE ERLKÖNIG

• Schubert wrote (at 18)

• Legend – whoever is touched by the king of

the elves (the Erlking) must die

• Characters: Narrator, father, child, Erlking

• Through-composed

Don’t have to

copy these

black slides

NARRATOR

Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind?

Es ist der Vater mit seinem Kind;

Er hat den Knaben wohl in dem Arm,

Er faßt ihn sicher, er hält ihn warm.

Who rides there so late

through the night dark and

drear?

The father it is, with his

infant so dear;

He holds the boy tightly

clasped in his arm,

He holds him safely, he

keeps him warm.

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"My son, wherefore seek'st

thou thy face thus to hide?"

"Look, father, the Erlking is

close by our side!

Do you not see the Erlking,

with crown and tail?"

"My son, it is only the mist

rising over the plain."

FATHER "Mein Sohn, was birgst du so bang dein Gesicht?" – SON "Siehst, Vater, du den Erlkönig nicht? Den Erlenkönig mit Kron und Schweif?" – FATHER "Mein Sohn, es ist ein Nebelstreif."

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ERLKING

"Du liebes Kind, komm, geh mit mir!

Gar schöne Spiele spiel' ich mit dir;

Manch' bunte Blumen sind an dem Strand,

Meine Mutter hat manch gülden Gewand." –

SON

"Mein Vater, mein Vater, und hörest du nicht,

Was Erlenkönig mir leise verspricht?" –

"Oh, come, dear child! oh

come with me!

For I will play games with you;

On my beach, lovely flowers

their blossoms unfold,

My mother shall give you

garments of gold."

"My father, my father, do you

not hear

The words that the Erlking

breathes into my ear?"

FATHER

"Sei ruhig, bleibe ruhig, mein Kind;

In dürren Blättern säuselt der Wind." –

ERLKING

"Willst, feiner Knabe, du mit mir gehen?

Meine Töchter sollen dich warten schön;

Meine Töchter führen den nächtlichen Reihn,

Und wiegen und tanzen und singen dich ein." –

"Be calm, dear child, you are

deceived;

the wind is only blowing

through the leaves."

"Will you go, then, dear child,

will you go with me there?

My daughters shall take care

of you with sisterly care

My daughters by night on the

dance floor you lead,

They'll cradle and rock you,

and sing you to sleep."

SON

"Mein Vater, mein Vater, und siehst du nicht dort

Erlkönigs Töchter am düstern Ort?" –

FATHER

"Mein Sohn, mein Sohn, ich seh es genau:

Es scheinen die alten Weiden so grau. –"

"My father, my father, do you

not see,

How the Erlking is showing

his daughters to me?"

"My son, my son, I see it

aright,

'Tis the old grey trees

deceiving thy sight."

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ERLKING

"Ich liebe dich, mich reizt deine schöne Gestalt;

Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt." –

SON

"Mein Vater, mein Vater, jetzt faßt er mich an!

Erlkönig hat mir ein Leids getan!" –

"I love thee, I'm charmed by

your beauty, dear boy!

And if you aren't willing,

then I'll use force."

"My father, my father, he

seizes me fast,

For the Erlking has hurt me

at last."

NARRATOR

Dem Vater grauset's, er reitet geschwind,

Er hält in Armen das ächzende Kind,

Erreicht den Hof mit Müh' und Not;

In seinen Armen das Kind

The father shudders, he rides

swiftly,

He holds in his arms the

shuddering child;

He reaches the courtyard

with toil and dread, –

In his arms the child

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NARRATOR

war

tot.

was

dead.

THE CHARACTER PIECE

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• Basically a lied for solo piano (no words)

• Descriptive of an emotion/feeling

• Example: Liebestraum (“Love Dream”) by

Franz Liszt

LIEBESTRAUM (“LOVE DREAM”) BY FRANZ LISZT

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HUNGARIAN RHAPSODY NO. 2 BY FRANZ LISZT

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HUNGARIAN RHAPSODY NO. 2 DUET – BY VICTOR BORGE 5:30-9:10-12:05

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FRANZ LISZT

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• 1811 – 1886, Hungarian

• Wanted to be the Paganini

of the piano

• At 19, went into seclusion, practiced

8-12 hours per day

• Emerged as one of the greatest pianists of his time

Fun Fact:

Liszt would often have

an extra piano or 2

backstage during his

concerts so he would

have a replacement

if/when he broke the

strings on one.

THE SYMPHONIC POEM

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• Basically a character piece for orchestra

• Invented by Liszt

• Examples:

- The Moldau by Bedrich Smetana

- Romeo and Juliet by Peter Tchaikovsky

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THE MOLDAU (EXCERPT)

BY BEDRICH SMETANA

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ROMEO AND JULIET – “LOVE THEME” BY PIOTR TCHAIKOVSKY

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RICHARD WAGNER

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• 1813 – 1883, Germany

• Increased size of orchestra to 100+,

added trombones & tubas

• Best known for operas – required huge

groups, large expensive scenery &

costumes. As a result, it was hard to

perform them bc it was so expensive.

WAGNER (CONT.)

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• Ring of the Nibelung (The Ring Cycle)

– 4 operas, takes 4 days

• Created leitmotif – short recurring

phrase connected with a

particular person, place, or idea.

• Ex: Darth Vader theme

RIDE OF THE VALKYRIES BY – RICHARD WAGNER

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IMPRESSIONISM

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• Painting technique created by Monet,

soft, blurred details, up close – tiny

dots/smudges, far away – full picture

comes together

• Ex: Water Lilies

A Sunday on La Grande Jatte

WATER LILIES CLAUDE MONET

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A SUNDAY ON LA GRANDE JATTE CLAUDE MONET

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CLAUDE DEBUSSY

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• French Impressionist composer

• Depicted same idea with his music

• Example: Claire de lune

CLAIRE DE LUNE BY – CLAUDE DEBUSSY

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