![]() Composers of absolute music thought of sound itself as the desired destination and that the best music should stand on its own without resorting to literary or extra-musical explanations as to why certain musical events occur. This school of composition thought music should have a level of abstract structural logic where pieces make sense in purely musical terms. One path was that of "abstract" or "absolute" music championed by Brahms, Clara Schumann, Felix Mendelssohn, Anton Dvorak, and the great violinist Joseph Joachim. Symphonic works diverged along two different paths in the Romantic Era. Harmonic sequences became more complex, less emphasis was placed on symmetry in phrases and cadences, the orchestra expanded for bigger sound, existing instruments were upgraded (string instruments were built with bass bars, fortepianos became the modern piano), and new instruments were being invented (like the saxophone and vibraphone). Audiences were enthralled by Frédéric Chopin, Clara Schumann, Franz Liszt, Henryk Wieniawski, Pablo Sarasate, and other virtuoso performers.Įarly romantic composers (and later romantic composers such as Brahms and Dvorak) wrote in many of the same structures to those of the Classical Era, however musical aesthetics became greatly expanded and exaggerated. The hero was important in Romantic literature and, as an extension of this idea, music lovers idolized the highly skilled virtuoso soloists which were performing in the 1800's. While Wagner expanded the form of Opera in Germany, Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini continued the long standing tradition of great opera composers in Italy. Operas became longer, more dramatic, more popular and endeavored in some cases such as Richard Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" to explore the whole of human experience in a single work. Concertos were written for virtuoso performers who were idolized as heroes by the public. The great symphony composers included Germany's Beethoven and Brahms France's Hector Berlioz and Austria's Schubert, Anton Bruckner, and Gustav Mahler. This led to the construction of larger and larger performance spaces which necessitated expanded ensembles to fill the space. The works performed were mainly symphonies, concertos, masses, operas, and oratorios. Due to the economic prosperity afforded to common people through the ongoing industrial revolution and the dissolution of monarchies across Europe, more people attended concerts than ever before in history. ![]() Longer compositions for large musical ensembles were also more popular than ever in the 1800's. Masterpieces of piano music were composed by Ludwig Beethoven, Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, and Felix Mendelssohn of Germany Franz Schubert of Austria Frédéric Chopin of Poland and Franz Liszt of Hungary. The piano became the most popular instrument of the 19th century. People of this era enjoyed piano music, both in solo performance and with other instruments. Larger works such the sonata also became increasingly popular. With discretionary income increasing as the "middle class" became established in the wake of revolutions around the world, music became an affordable pass time to an increasing number of amateur musicians. Short piano pieces and dances were increasingly written for publication and sale to the public for their own musical entertainment at home. Franz Schubert from Austria and Robert Schumann from Germany were two of the many composers who wrote song cycles (collections of songs related by a theme in the texts or repeated melodic material). The piano's expressive and dramatic qualities made it an ideal instrument to support a solo voice. ![]() ![]() Franz Schubert of Austria composed many of these art songs called "Lieder" in which lyrical, usually easily sung melodies were set to poetic texts of the era. Romantic composers in German speaking countries were inspired to write some of the greatest songs of all time due to both the rising popularity and affordability of the piano and the increasing pervasiveness of great poetry. Pieces for solo piano and songs with piano accompaniment became especially popular during the Romantic Era. ![]() Beethoven's late works show this expansion in form and harmonic freedom - from the clarity, symmetry, and directness of the Classical style to an increasingly complex and emotional Romantic style. The Romantic style was initially not a revolt against the Classical style but an expansion of it. The style of this music became known as Romantic. In the early 1800's, music became more varied, intense, and expressive. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |