The Romantic

1820 - 1900





1. The whole of the 19th century is generally termed as the romantic era .
2. For analytical purposes, the 19th century can be divided into two sections :
    a. Early Romantic   - the first of the 19th century
    b. Late Romantic    - the second half of the 19th century

The Instrument

The orchestra expanded in size and many new instrument were added .
STRING
WOODWIND
BRASS
PERCUSSION

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Hector Berlioz

(1803 - 1869) Leading French romantic composer, also a brilliant writer and critic whose ememirs are a case-study in  romantic sesibility.His compositions are mostly programmatic and notable for their range of literary derivation, often massive scale and imaginative orchestral colour. A characteristic unifying feature is his use of recurring theme or idee fixe in his symphonic fantastique

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William S Bennett

A leading younger British composer who studied at the Royal Academy of Music. He composed in dissonant style, a successful melo-dramatic opera  The Mines of Sulphur.His other works include the operas The Ledge and Victory, a symphonies, chamber music and film scores.

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Beethoven (German Composer)

(1770 - 1827)

Beethoven is often considered to have been the last classical and the first romantic composer. Troubled by failling hearing from about 30, he nevertheless produced his greater string quartets after he became totally deaf at 45.Beethoven developed the sonatas and symphony from the point reached by Haydn and Mozart, expanding their scale and intensifying their emotional content. He greatly widened the range of expression of the piano and the orchestra, demanding in such works as his 9th symphony for larger forces than had ever used before. This symphony broke new ground in having a choral finale. In his work, a steady progression can be traced from the style he inheritated from his immediate predeccessors toward the romanticism oh his successors.

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Bela Bartok (1881-1945)

Hungarian composer, Bartok was one of the leading nationalists and modernists of the earlier 20th century . He studied at the Budapest Conservatory and became known as a brilliant pianist .

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Johann Sebastien Bach (1685-1750 )

1685-1750



A German composer, Bach was born at Eisenach. In his life time, Bach was chiefly famous as an organist and his style of composition was regarded as over elaborated and old-fashioned. He combined extraordinary contrapuntal skill with mastery of picturesque and passionate expression. His music was always written for a practical purpose-for church services, patrons or instruction of his sons. Bach's output can be divided into 3 groups- organ works, instrumental and orchestral works (including concertos, suites and keyboard) and religious choral works (including motets, cantatas, passion, oratorios and masses).

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The Classical

1750-1820

- Late 18th century
- The second half of the 18th century
- Early 19th century



The Instrument
1. The orchestra was developed and the woodwind family became more established
2. Piano - Though invented in 1709, it is in the Classical period that it gained acceptance. It gradually replaced the harpsichord as the main keyboard media and concertos were written for it .

STRING              - Violin
                            - Viola
                            - Cello
                            - Double Bass

WOODWIND     - 1 or 2 Flutes
                            - 2 Oboes
                            - 2 Clarinets
                            - 2 Bassoons

BRASS                - 2 Trumpets
                            - 2 Horns
                            - Trombone

PERCUSSION    - Timpani


The Form
1. Musical forms were developed and established in the Classical period.
    Sonata Form - This is a basic instrumental form in three or four movements. It is used by solo sonatas, symphonies, concertos and chamber music with certian changes
2. The following are works using the sonata form .
    Sonata
    Symphony
    Concerto
    String Quartet

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