Music Literature 2

Part II

Key Words

 The Romantic Period

 Romanticism

 “Pastoral” Beethoven N. 6

 Individualism / Emotional / Expression

 “Monster“ Performances

 Virtuosi

 Orchestral pieces

Romantic Music

 Art Song

 Vocal pieces

 Piano Pieces

 Program Music

 Symphonic Poem / Tone Poem

 Opera / Concert Overture

 Symphony

 Concerto

Art Song

A composition for solo voice and piano
Ex: Lied ( Lieder ), Song Cycle

-
Strophic form

-
Through-composed form

-
Modified strophic form

Ex: Schubert “The Erlking” 1815 - Erlkonig

“The Wild Rose” 1815 - Heidenroslein

Piano Pieces – Chopin/Liszt

 Romance ( Romanze ) a short, lyrical

pieces for piano or solo instrument with
piano

 Cycle

 Carnival

 Nachtstucke ( Night music )

 Fantasiestucke ( Fantasy piece )

 Nucturn

 Etude

 Polonaise / Marzurka / Waltz

 Concerto

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

 a romantic composer who rooted in

classical tradition

 Music – elegance / balance /

 various of moods BUT

avoids emotional extremes

 Symphonies

The Instruments : the vurtuosi
instrument

 Stradivari Instrument

 Il Cannone Guarnerius – Paganini

 Davidov Stradivarius - Jacqueline du

Pré – Yo Yo Ma

Robert and Clara Schumann

 Romantic Composers

 Married together (Clara Wieck) and had

8 Children

 Clara was world famous, one of the

greatest pianists of all time - Virtuoso

 Playing by memories

 Robert studied Law – and was one of

the Clara’s father student

Robert and Clara Schumann

 Robert began composing when he realized

he would not recover the use of his hands

 Clara always played a lot of Robert’s music

 Robert was not only a great composer/

talented writer – music critics

 Robert wanted to portray ideas and events

with his music – Program Music pioneer

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghjhk6

Es6D8

Program music

 Was to became very important, but the

public was confused by first.

 Clara spent years to promote it

 Ex. Traumerei – “Dreaming”

Schumann’s tragic

 He was a very good father/ husband

 Unfortunately, he was prone to mental

illness – insane.

 The note “A” sounding inside his head

 He saw ghosts

 He told Clara he needed to be in a mental

hospital, away form his family – very sad

 He died at 46 while Clara was only 37

 Clara and Brahms

A Single Mom

 Clara Schumann

Amazing Clara

 Clara composed some music herself,

but stopped when Robert died.

 Clara still performed until 71 – 72

 It’s amazing she managed as much as

she did.