Readings and Quizzes

notesLinks to an external site.

Romantic Music Overview

Step 1

1. Share your overall impression of Romantic Period Music.

   1. I love the increased variety of timbre and dynamics. The sudden ff in Fingals Cave were just bone-chilling. At the beginning of Slavonic Dances I was JOLTED awake (and yanked my headphones out until I turned the volume down). But thankfully it had times that were more subtle and sweet to give the listeners ears a break.  I then had to turn my volume back up to fully enjoy the subtle beauties of Song without Words. Each were so different but just as intense (just in different emotional territories).  

2. How does this music sound similar to Classical Music?

   1. The simplicity on Song without Words definitely resemble Classical Music's desire to please.  Also, the sense of form in Slavonic Dances was Classical-like. 

3. How does this music sound different from Classical Music?

   1. If you took classical music and pumped it full of passion and intent, you'd get Romantic. Everything has more to it. More purpose, more emotional depth, and more of a drive to every song. However, Classical music wasn't devoid of these things. 

 

Step 2

• What musical elements help create the emotion and imagery of Love DreamLinks to an external site. by Franz Liszt?

(Musical Elements; Pitch, Rhythm, Dynamics, Tempo, Texture, Timbre, Form, Purpose, Harmony, Melody, Expression, Mood, Language, Style, etc.)

Arpeggios for forwards movement

rubato 

no change in timbre (just piano) 

building dynamics

that note that hung in the air before the crazy run (pitch, purpose, expression) 

pulsing (the way the arpeggios pulse) 

the high pitched chords coasting on top of the crazy stuff underneath! amazing sense of forwards motion leading to the flowing chromatic sclae (down, up, back down) landing in the original theme 

mostly homophonic and polyphonic, small moments of monophonic 

 

Step 3

• Describe the instrumental timbres used in Brahms Symphony No. 1Links to an external site.

bright 

sweet 

shrill

oboe!!! smooth and mesmerizing <3 

flute was on the shrill side 

cellos were dark and rumbly 

brass was honky (so honky at the end)

violins get smoother 

horns are smooth and dark towards the end 

 

Step 4

• Answer the following questions regarding Waldesnacht No. 3Links to an external site. by Brahms(2017-2018 All State Audition piece)

1. Provide a text translation for this excerpt

   1. Gloom of woods, refreshing coolness, thee a thousand times I greet;
      when I quit the throng of folly, oh ’tis then thy rest is sweet!
      
      ’Mid the moss in soft recesses, dreamily I lie;
      there no care the heart oppresses, all my fears and troubles fly.
      
      Distant voices, far resounding, wake the heart to sweet unrest;
      while I breathe the fragrant stillness, ’mid these shadows I am blest.
      
      World, thou canst not here assail me with thy fever’d pain,
      where the pine sheds odours balmy peace and holy silence reign.
      
      Here beneath the swaying branches ev’ry murmur breathes repose,
      while the breeze with noiseless pinion many a balmy blossom throws.
      
      Sing, ye birds, your tender ditties, lull the weary past;
      haunts of men and busy cities, oh farewell, I rest at last.

2. Is this an example of a miniature or grandiose composition?

   1. miniature

 

Step 5

• Describe musical elements of Wedding MarchLinks to an external site. by Felix Mendelssohn

(Musical Elements; Pitch, Rhythm, Dynamics, Tempo, Texture, Timbre, Form, Purpose, Harmony, Melody, Expression, Mood, Language, Style, etc.)

starts monophonic with a brassy timbre, then harmonized 

goes very bright 

back and forth light--> heavy in texture

A B A C A etc. 

steady (march) tempo and grand mood

rather high in pitch 

rhythmic patterns keep coming back (and nothing weird or incongruent occurs)

Purpose? For weddings of course! Its a celebratory piece with a sweet, slow section at the end that is rather romantic 

 

Step 6

• Answer the following questions regarding  Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2Links to an external site. by Chopin 

1. What is a nocturne?

   1. a romantic/dreamy piano piece, usually quite short 

2. Describe characteristics of Romantic music conveyed in this piece

   1. rubato! 
   2. ornamentals used in this context (for emotional effect)
   3. the underlying chords "keeping  time"
   4. swells
   5. sudden ff
   6. chromaticism (or at least sections using it)
   7. that high pitched sixteenth thing in the right hand that descended and resolved!!! 
      1. I just liked this 

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Step 7

• Fill out the SHMRG FormLinks to an external site. in response to the following composition

1. Verleih uns FriedenLinks to an external site. by  F. Mendelssohn

 

Period Research

• Gather resources of your own choosing to answer the following questions

1. Provide approximate dates for the Romantic Period punctuated with notable world/historical events

1780s-1840s- Industrial Revolution 

1798- French Revolution 

1804- Napoleon crowns himself emperor 

1812- Grim Brother's complete their fairytales 

1812- The War of 1812

1818- Marry Shelly Frankenstein

1824- Beethoven's Ninth Symphony 

1834- Schumann Carnival

1845- Edgar Allen Poe The Raven and others

1846- Chopin completes his last polonaise 

1853- La traviata is first performed in Venice

1. What impact did female composers have on the music of the Romantic Period?

Although women were often discouraged from pursuing careers in music, many did. Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Josephine Lang, Clara Wieck Schumann, and Pauline Viardot-Garcia are just a few of the great women com[osers of the Romantic era. Not only did they contribute physical works to the time, they also helped pave the way for future women musicians. Clara Wieck, specifically, had some major accomplishments. These included being the first to introduce Chopin's music to Germany, the first to play Beethoven's Appassionata Sonata in Berlin, and the first to introduce works by Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann. 

1. What impact did the Industrial Revolution have on the music industry?

   1. The biggest change was the new improvements in instrument manufacturing. This allowed for not only mass production but also improvements to be made. For example, the pianos was gifted a larger range and grander sound. Valves were also now introduced to brass and key and rod/key functions were improved in woodwinds. 

2. Provide titles of Romantic Period Orchestral music that featured the English Horn 

   1. Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture 
   2. Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 
   3. Debussy: Nocturnes for Orchestra 
   4. Falla: The Three Cornered Hat, Suite No. 2
   5. Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Major
   6. Rossini: William Tell Overture
   7. Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring Part I: Adoration of the Earth

3. Provide titles of Romantic Period Orchestral music that featured the Harp

   1. Musetta’s Waltz from “La Boheme,”
   2. Fauré’s vocal gem “Apres un reve”
   3. Debussy’s “Valse Romantique

4. Use adjectives to describe the similarities between French Impressionism and the music of Debussy

   1. dreamy, layered, light, story-telling

5. Choose an impressionistic art image that best partners with The Links to an external site.Afternoon of a FaunLinks to an external site.

6. LinkLinks to an external site.

7. Choose a musical selection by Debussy that best partners with Water LiliesLinks to an external site.

8. LinkLinks to an external site.

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Honors Track

Option 4

Use the this THIS RESOURCELinks to an external site. &  NPR Article Links to an external site. tLinks to an external site.o answer the following questions

• Describe your thoughts, feelings and/or emotional response to the material.

  • Honestly, I'm not surprised. White men have always taken the spotlight and shined over women and people of color who are just as (or even more) talented.
• What was the most important insight you gained?
  • It's always important to consider who is being ignored in history. Especially when it comes to music, poc made many contributions to the classical side that have been ignored.
• What surprised you the most?
  • That "Less than 2% of musicians in American orchestras are African American... Only 4.3% of conductors are black". Oh wow that is so sad. 
• What did you already know?
  • "American composers in the late 19th century largely resisted the influence of African American music". Basically, I already knew that the influence of poc was purposefully ignored. 
• In what ways might you be able to apply this material to your musical interests?
  • First things first, I will be listening to Dawson's Negro Folk Symphony in its entirety. I am excited to see how it differs from white composer's music.