MUSIC OF THE ROMANTIC ERA

Romantic Period is described by some musicians, composers and researchers around the world as
cultural movement that stressed emotion, imagination, individualism and freedom of expression. It
was characterized by expanding the formal structure within a composition and making the pieces
more passionate and expressive.

Nationalism is one of the main features of this era. This evidently shown in some compositions made
by Romantic composers. One of which is the Polonaise of Frederic Chopin, a dance composition for
piano which is famous in Poland until tody. In addition, the composers focuses mainly on individuality
of style and expressive aims and subjects.

Emotions, variety of musical style in compositions, freedom of expression are only a few things that
characterized the music of the Romantic period. It was during the heights of popularity of Ludwig Van
Beethoven, one of the great composers during the Classical period made a great distinction to change the
phase of composing music by bridging the music from Classical to Romantic era.

The culture of extensive music education in Europe extends from Classical period and explored more
in this era. Orchestra grows in number and became limitless, composers explored instrumentation
and many compositions were inspired by emotions in addition to a musical theme.

There are some facts about Romantic musical period that everybody should know. The piano music is
in free form such as fantasy, rhapsody, ballad and nocturne and program music was expressed in tone
poems and Symphony Fantastique. The music was used to tell stories and expressed ideas. Most of the
composers were proud of their countrys music and often use folk songs in their works.
*program music an instrumental music that conveys image or scenery , music that tells a short story without
text or lyrics and imaginative ideas.

The music during this period used forms borrowed from Classical music and made them bigger
longer sons and more instruments. The themes they wrote in their composition are mainly about
nature, literature, history and feelings.

COMPOSERS TRIVIA COMPOSITIONS

1. Niccolo Paganini
His musical skills started La Campanella
with playing the mandolin The Carnival of Venice
at the age of 5.
Known as the "Violin
Virtuoso"

2. Frederic Chopin Known as the "Piano Poet" Etude Op. 10, No.3 in E
Some of his music is major (No Other Love)
characterized through its Other piano works (ballade,
beautiful tone, rhythmic etude, mazurka, nocturne,

3. Franz Liszt
4. Hector Berlioz
5. Robert Alexander Schumann
6. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
7. Camille Saint-Saens
PORTFOLIO:
Make a portfolio of weekly music activity. Have a picture of the composers. Get articles, facts and
biography of the composers.
Things to accomplish:
a. Picture of Romantic Composer
b. Articles related to Romantic Music
c. Lessons learned inside the classroom discussion (activities)
flexibility, graceful and
elegant.
Piano virtuoso
Developed the Program
music
The composer who took law
and later on pursue music
however Schumann
developed a problem with
his hands, effectively
became the end of this
dream as pianist.
Known for his Ballet
Music
He was considered as a
composer who creates
elegant music, neat, clean,
polished and never
excessive.
polonaise, prelude, waltz,
impromptu, scherzo, sonata)
Hungarian Rhapsodies
Liebestrum Nocturne
Symphony Fantastique
Carnaval (a portrait of a
masked ball attended by his
allies and his beloved Clara.
Frauenliebe und Leben (A
Womans Love and Life)
Swan Lake
Sleeping Beauty
Waltz of the Flower from
The Nutcracker Suite
Romeo & Juliet
Symphony no.6
Pathetique
Peter & the Wolf
The Swan
ACTIVITY 1
Listening exercise: Write down words to describe the atmosphere and emotions f 2 nd movement of SYMPHONY
FANTASTIQUE a ball.

Symphony Fantastique 2nd movement a ball ATMOSPHERE AND EMOTION

INTRODUCTION
BEGINNING
MIDDLE
END

Questions:
1. What can you say about the flow of the music?
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2. Which instruments usually played the melody?

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3. What happened to the movement of the tempo?

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ACTIVITY 2
Music Match: Match the selected music of the Romantic period and its composer. Write your answer in the box.

Music Composer Answer

Peter and the Wolf
Revolutionary Etude
Waltz of the Flower from the
Nutcracker Suite Frederic Chopin
The Swan
Carnival of the Animals Frederic Chopin
Nocturne Op.9 No.1 in Bb minor
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Frederic Chopin
Franz Liszt
Camille Saint-Saens
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Frederic Chopin
Franz Liszt
Camille Saint-Saens
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Franz Liszt
Camille Saint-Saens
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Franz Liszt
Camille Saint-Saens
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Frederic Chopin
Franz Liszt
Camille Saint-Saens
ACTIVITY 3
Music Appreciatioin and Retentioin: Re-arrange the title of the music and identify the composer. After you have identify
the music and the composer, listen to the music and interpret the flow of the music.

Music Composer Reflection

FNATSAIE IPMRMOTPU

LEIBSETUARM NCOTUNRE

SMYPOHNIE FNAATSTIUQE

ACTIVITY 4
Music Elements Analysis: Listen carefully to the selected recordings of Romantic music. Analyze the music according to it
elements and write your answer in the given chart below. Follow the sample activity for musical elements analysis.

Title Timbre/ Texture Tempo

Instruments Used
Liebestaum (Liszt) Piano Monophony Fast
Orchestral Homophony Slow
instruments Polyphony Moderate

Title Timbre/ Texture Tempo

Instruments Used
Revolutionary Etude

Waltz of the Flower

The Swan

Nocturne Op.9 No.1 in Bb

minor
ACTIVITY 5
Enhancement Activities for Understanding: Complete the following unfinished sentence.

1. My understanding about the music of the Romantic Period is that.....

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2. I realized that most of instrumental music from the Romantic Period are....
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3. The reason why I really appreciate instrumental music from the Romantic Period is because...
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4. I love _____________________________ by _________________________ the most among the rest because...

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