Grade 7 Romantic Era Music History

The Romantic Period developed directly after the Classical period and the two are often confused with each other.

The Romantic Period occurred approximately between 1780 to 1910

As a result this period lasted about 130 years.

Some of the most famous composers from this period include

Peter Tchaikovsky

Edvard Grieg

Johannes Brahms

Felix Mendelssohn

Sergei Rachmaninoff

So what comes to mind when we think of Romantic?

Romantic focuses on stirring emotions within the listener, telling stories, memories and conveying colours or places.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJNNJTRD1GQ - Richard Wagner Symphony in C

What piece of music has ever stirred a powerful emotion or made you so very happy

One example of this is found in Felix Mendelsohn's Fingal's Cave

Nature was often a source of inspiration for Romantic music.

For Mendelsohn it was his trip to Scotland's Staffa Island and sailing through this cave.

Listen closely and see if you think the music reflects the cave and what it looks like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcogD-hHEYs

Unlike previous eras, musicians themselves were able to influence the music they were playing

This technique is called Rubato - to play without a strict tempo

Musicians were allowed to alter the flow of the music's speed

let me play you an example