MUSIC APPRECIATION-HUMA 118

Romantic Era c.1830 – C.1920

Romantic Era is a period that experienced “artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement originating from Western Europe” (Romantic music, 2019, June 27). The period also saw the emergence of new ideas that led to political liberty through revolutions. Most of the European nations reacted to the social, political norms and scientific rationalization. People were interested in using music, visual arts, and literature to express their feeling about nature and what was happening around the world. The form of music in the Romantic Era was referred to as Western classical music, and it began in the middle of the 18th Century. The music throughout this era up to the early 19th Century became “more explicitly expressive and programmatic, dealing with the literary, artistic, and philosophical themes of the time” (Romantic music, 2019, June 27). Most of the artists emphasized on their emotions, feelings and used the music to glorify nature and history. Individualism was also common as part of artistic work. All these ideas led to what is known as Romanticism. That is the way the Romantic Era is also referred to as the Romanticism period. Musical Romanticism focused firmly on subjectivism, history of the past, autobiographical and musical formulas and conventions. The musical structure used romantic music include concert etude, song cycle, arabesque, and Nocturne. Programmed music and traditional classical genres were common in the romantic era. In terms of harmonic structure, the music hade alternative keys and the use of more elaborative harmonic progressions. Romantic artists used longer, defined, and more satisfying themes on the melodies. The music had a wide range of dynamics and larger tonal ranges. It was also characterized by large orchestration and use of piano. The period saw “dynamic range and diversity of instruments used in this ensemble” (Romantic music, 2019, June 27). Some of romantic compose include Ludwig Van Beethoven, Robert Schumann, Vincenzo Francesco Berllini, Frederic Francois Chopin, Louis Hector Berlioz, Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn, Josef Anton Puccini, Gustav Mahler, Giuseppe Verdi, Jean Sibelius, Johannes Brahms, and Richard Strauss (Romantic music, 2019, June 27).

Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms is one of the remarkable composer, pianist, and conductor during the romantic period, 1833 – 1897. He was born in Hamburg in a family of musicians, and his father started training him to play violin and piano. He had two siblings, a sister, and a younger brother. Brahms spent most of his professional life in Vienna, and he became best in piano, symphony orchestra, organ, chamber ensembles, voice, and chorus. The romantic artists worked with some of the leading pianists of his time, such as Clara Schumann and renowned violist Joseph Joachim. The music of Brahms was “firmly rooted in the traditional structures, romantic motifs and compositional techniques of the Classical masters” (Johannes Brahms, 2019, June 08). He got much influenced by Gustav Jenner, Julius Rontgen, and Robert Fuchs. His works include a Symphony 1, Op. 68, a double concerto for violin and cello, Violin Concerto, two serenades, and four symphonies. He had large choral work, a “German Requiem.” His variations include the “Variation and Fugue on a theme by Handdel,” and Paganini Variations.” Brahms never married or have any children and he died on April 3, 1897 (Johannes Brahms, 2019, June 08).

Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Verdi was also a remarkable composer during the Romantic Rra, 1813 -1901. He was born in Busseto from a humble background. He had a younger sister by the name Giuseppe. Verdi was interested in both music and politics. He was once elected as a politician. Before he became an opera composer, he got much influence from Gioachino Rossini, Vincenzo Bellini, and Gaetano Donizetti. He used to attend private music lessons in Latin and Italian offered by a patron. Verdi adapted the operas of Friedrich Schiller, one of the artists who used music to express his own music. Verdi operas became popular in Italy, and his first pieces include “Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio” and “Un Giorno di Regno.” His famous opera “Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves” played a significant role in nationalism. It was used as “an anthem for Italian patriots, who were seeking to unify their country and free it from foreign control” (Giuseppe Verdi, 2019, May 25). The operas of Verdi differed from other operas because his pieces used to “evoke a range of cultural and political resonances” (Giuseppe Verdi, 2019, May 25). Giuseppe Verdi, 2019, May 25). He was labeled the “Master of the Romantic Symphony” (Giuseppe Verdi, 2019, May 25). Besides being music and politics, Verdi “has been the subject of a number of film and stage works.” Verdi first wife was called Margherita Barezzi who died at the age of 26. His two children died when they were young. Verdi died on 27 January 1901 at the age of 87 (Giuseppe Verdi, 2019, May 25).

Richard Wagner

Richard Wagner was a composer, theatre director, polemist, and a great conductor during the Romantic Era, 1813 – 1883. He was born in Leipzig as the ninth child of Carl Friedrich Wagner, his father who died when Richard was six months old. He became famous for his opera, and he also wrote the libretto and performed on stage. One different of Wagner from other artists of his time was that his work was very much related to art. He came up with a compositional style in that made orchestra to be equal with the singers. He used to “synthesize poetry, visual, and dramatic arts, with music subsidiary to drama” (Richard Wagner, 2019, June 22). Most of his pieces were notable leitmotifs, rich harmonies, complex textures, and orchestration. Wagner advanced musical language and adapted tonal centers and chromaticism. Another achievement of the artist is that he had an opera house, Bayreuth Festspielhaus. His works include “The Infatuated Lover’s Caprice” the one he wrote at the age of 17. The other songs are “The Wedding,” “Men are More Cunning than Women,” “The Flying Dutchman, “and many more including music dramas and writings. His music was also characterized by anti-semantic sentiments that made his life undergo political exile. The sentiments affected his music and career so much. By mixing music, drama and politics made Wagner experience turbulent love affairs and later tasted poverty. In his lifetime Wagner married to wives and a total of three children. He died on 13 February 1883 at the age of 70(Richard Wagner, 2019, June 22).

What was the “War of the Romantics”?

War of the Romantics was used to refer to the aesthetic schism found in music during the Romantic Era. The term was used to describe the musical argument between composers as a result of differences in musical structure or harmony. A good example was how some artists saw the music of Brahms was old fashioned compared to theirs. So it brought much conflict between music composers (War of the Romantics, 2019, January 28).

Who built an opera house in Bayreuth, Germany, and what was its significance?

Richard Wagner Who built an opera house in Bayreuth where he used to perform his music, drama or any staged work. Bayreuth Festspielhaus acted as a venue for the annual Bayreuth Festival (Richard Wagner, 2019, June 22).

Who composed “The Ride of the Valkyrie”? (Listen to selection on the list).

“The Ride of the Valkyrie” was one of the operas composed by Richard Wagner back in the Romantic Era, 1851(Richard Wagner, 2019, June 22).

How was Italian opera described in the Romantic Era?

The Italian opera in the Romantic Era was mostly in the Italian language because of the audience who were from Italy. Most of the operas were created by native Italian composers such as Bellini, Verdi, Rossini, Donizetti, and Puccini. Italian operas were drawn upon the traditions of the medieval and Renaissance period. Italians opera was described by vocal and orchestral music, visual arts, drama, and dance. They were performed as a dramatic work that included combining musical score, text, “ libretto.” The operas were usually in a fusion of music with a theatrical setting, acting, scenery, and poetry. The Italian operas are amongst the best operas written and performed across the world (Italian opera, 2019, February 23).

Which composer mentioned above is the composer of the opera “Rigoletto”? What is the story – very briefly!

Giuseppe Verdi composed the opera “Rigoletto.” It was one of Italian libretto based on a story of the licentious Duke of Mantua, his daughter Gilda and hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto. In the storyline, the Duke and Rigoletto are said to be cursed when Duke fell in love with his daughter Gilda. On the other hand, Gilda decided to sacrifice her life to save her father from the assassins (Rigoletto, 2019, May 31).

Listen to the aria from the opera “Rigoletto, “La Donna e Mobile” sung by Pavarotti.
What does “La Donna e Mobile” mean?? What is the story?

“La Donna e Mobile” means “The woman is fickle.” It was one of the Duke of Mantua’s canzone and part of opera Rigoletto. The story is about love life where the Duke of Mantua who flirts with a daughter who is already married. Rigoletto kept watching everything and makes fun of the scenario (Rigoletto, 2019, May 31).

Which composer mentioned above is labeled the “Master of the Romantic Symphony”?

Johannes Brahms

Listen to Brahms Symphony No. 3, Third Movement.
Two other composers are important: Franz Schubert and the “Erlkoenig”: Listen and watch. He is known as the Master of the Lied or Art Song. Read about his life and when he wrote the “Erlkoenig.” In 1815 – he was only about 18 years old. Niccolo Paganini: Caprice No. 24. Read about his life as a virtuoso violinist in the Romantic Era. (Listen to the 24th Note the virtuoso technique. Not many can play this piece – even today!).

References

Giuseppe Verdi. (2019, May 25).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Verdi

Romantic music. (2019, June 27).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_music

Richard Wagner. (2019, June 22).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wagner

Rigoletto. (2019, May 31).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigoletto

Johannes Brahms. (2019, June 08).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Brahms

La donna è mobile. (2019, June 10).