Because Romanticism is so personal and so filled
with contrasting concepts of music, not all characteristics of style
are present in all forms. There are contradictions
in style among groups of composers and even the works of individual
composers. There were Romantic idealists or
absolutists who insisted that music must exist for its own sake
without extramusical associations. In contrast, increasing numbers
of composers experimented with music that
told stories (program music)
imitated sounds of nature, or illustrated scenes aurally.
Some composers excelled in spectacular virtuosity.
Others emphasized the intimacy of miniature forms
and delicate textures expressing their personal feelings. Solo
songs enjoyed considerable attention during the Romantic era, as composers
became involved with literary forms for their texts.
There was a contrast between nationalism
and
internationalism. There were composers whose aim was to evoke
patriotic feelings by using folklore, folk songs, and dances. Nationalism
became strong in such countries as Russia, Poland, and Bohemia.
There were also Romantics who avoided nationalistic devices in the search
for a universal musical language.
One common goal of Romantic composers was based on the premise that
a feeling of musical tension is necessary to achieve
a corresponding intensification of emotional response.
Most Romanticists revolted against the restraints and formalism of the
Classic era. Some, such as Schubert,
Mendelssohn,
and Brahms, cast their Romantic
expressions in molds of the Classical forms.
- Formal Organization
Form continued to be based on contrasting melodies in homophonic
style
The sonata was the most
important type of formal organization
Rather than two contrasting melodies, there were often
contrasting theme groups and sometimes only motives
pitted against each other
There were sectional forms (most common in
piano music) still based on contrasting themes, but usually without development
sections
- Melody
Characterized by an intensity of personal feelings
Dynamic climaxes and frequent changes in dynamics
serve to build the tension necessary for its expression
Frequent chromaticism helped to create harmonic
tension
Melodic themes were of varying lengths
frequently fragmentary
rhythmic interruptions
irregular phrases
many rising and falling melodic curves
avoided or deceptive cadences
- Rhythm
Early in the period, element of rhythm
remained
much the same as before
Middle of the century it became more irregular,
complex and interesting
Changes in the number of beats per measure
Cross-rhythms
Syncopations
Folk dance contributed to the rhythmic vigor
especially in nationalistic music
avoided strong stresses in order to increase the sense of tension
Tempo was not always constant
frequent changes
rubato
accelerando
- Harmony
Still tonal, BUT
the sense of key center was eroded
Harmonic tension was built and tonal center weakened by
Chromaticism
Nonharmonic tones
Altered chords
Extensive use of 9th and 13th chords
Gradual disintegration of the major-minor system
fusion of major and minor modes
key relationships were less formalized
modulations to distant keys
sudden moving in and out of keys
strong formal cadences were avoided
modal harmonization of folk melodies
- Texture
Mixed vertical and horizontal elements
Polyphonic texture occurred more as a device than a style
Accompanied lyric line was one important
stylistic feature
Evident in the German Lied
The texture can also be described as heavy
Compared with the lighter and more transparent Classic texture
In orchestral works, the larger complement of instruments
yielded a rich texture
Made even more sonorous by more subdivisions
of instrument sections
Increasing the number of individual parts
(Wagner, for example, sometimes
divided the first violin section into as many as four different parts)
- Instrumentation and Tone Color
The piano became the most popular instrument
It could run the gamut of all ranges of sound
Played by one person - very individual
expression
Almost a musical symbol of the Romantic period
It was enlarged to give it a wider range
Favorite household instrument
Tone color became an integral part of melodic and
harmonic texture
Melodies were conceived for specific timbre
Harmonic texture was influenced by orchestral innovations
Orchestra grew in size and variety of color
English horn was added
Clarinet was added
More brass and percussion
Technical refinements made to instruments,
especially brass and woodwinds
Increased the virtuosity of the orchestra
Major contributors to the more expressive orchestra were Berlioz
and Wagner
The solo song with piano accompaniment
was another favorite medium
The voice was another very personalized instrument
Added intensity to the poetic text
Opera was a very important Romantic
medium
Very powerful, emotion-evoking medium combining
drama, poetry, the visual experience
vocal and orchestral music
Operetta, a light form of musical
drama, gave Romantic expression a popular form
- Performance Practice
Written dynamic indications became more explicit
More specific terminology
Tempi were more accurately designated by the use
of metronome markings
The orchestral conductor emerged as a virtuoso
performer
The use of the baton took the conductor from the keyboard to the podium
It was an era of massive festival performances
An enormous number of participants were often used
There are instances where more than 1000 performers took part in the
performance of a single work
Sometimes, as in the case of Berlioz,
the large orchestra and chorus constituted
an essential part of the composer's style
Often the number of performers was augmented to suit
public taste
The love of the middle class for making music led to the establishment
of choral societies
The art of improvisation was diminished
Due to the complexity or compositions and the precise directions for
performance
A few individuals, like Chopin
and Liszt, continued
to make brilliant use of it
In concerto writing, most cadenzas were written
in such a way as to give the effect
The Romantic emphasis on individualism encouraged
virtuoso performers to emerge
Franz Liszt was the most successful
virtuoso pianist
His personality, theatrical effects, along with spectacular performance
made him almost a legend in his own time
Frederic Chopin's music and performance
was so personal, refined, and brilliant
that he has become almost a symbol of the Romantic
spirit
Nicolo Paganini developed
the technique of the violin to its present state
double stops, harmonics, runs and trills
He influenced many composers, including
Liszt and Berlioz
Virtuoso composer/performer's work was notated in their scores
Vocal virtuosity was not documented until the
advent of audio recording
