Download The Romantic Era

The Romantic Era
(19TH Century)
•Romantic ≠ romantic (someone involved in
romance)
•Movement in not only music but also art,
literature, poetry, politics, philosophy, etc….
•Evolution of Classical Era, not innovative
–Carries on Beethoven’s tradition
•Stresses emotion, imagination and
INDIVIDUALITY!
The Romantic Era
• Emphasis on:
– Freedom of expression
– Obsession with self
• Autobiographical works
• Nationalism
– Middle and working class
• Oliver Twist, Huckleberry Finn
– The realm of fantasy and the Gothic
• Frankenstein, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Edgar Allen Poe
• Exoticism
Romanticism in Music
• Expansion (not invention)
– Increased technical demands on performers
– Musical forms and structures
• Ex: 90 minute Symphonies vs. 20 minute Symphonies
– Harmony
• More chromaticism and dissonance
– Dynamics
• p=piano, pp=pianissimo; f=forte, ff=fortissimo
• pppp, ppppp; ffff, fffff in romantic era
Romanticism in Music
• Composers with recognizable individual style
• Elements include
– Increased use of folk music
– Nationalism
– Program music
– Exoticism
– Heightened contrast and emotions
– Middle-class audiences (no courts)
– Virtuosi
The Art Song
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Solo piece for voice and piano
Lied = German text
Usually set to poetry
Music matches text
Song Cycle = set of songs
The Erlking by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Who rides, so late, through night and wind? "Do you want to come with me, fine lad?
It is the father with his child.
My daughters should be waiting for you;
He holds the boy in the crook of his arm My daughters lead the nightly dances
He holds him safe, he keeps him warm.
And will rock and dance and sing you to sleep.
"My son, why do you hide your face so
anxiously?"
"Father, do you not see the Erlking?
The Erlking with crown and cloak?"
"My son, it's a wisp of fog."
"My father, my father, can't you see there,
The Erlking's daughters in the gloomy place?"
"My son, my son, I see it well:
The old willows seem so gray."
"I love you, your beautiful form entices me;
"You lovely child, come, go with me!
Many a beautiful game I'll play with you; And if you're not willing, I shall use force."
Some colorful flowers are on the shore, "My father, my father, he's grabbing me now!
My mother has some golden robes."
The Erlking has wounded me!"
"My father, my father, can't you hear,
The father shudders; he rides swiftly,
What the Erlking quietly promised me?" He holds in his arms the moaning child.
"Be calm, stay calm, my child;
The wind rustles through dry leaves." Barely he arrives at the yard in urgency;
In his arms, the child was dead.