ROMANTIC PERIOD 1825-1900

HISTORICAL EVENTS•1830: First Railroad

•1832: Passing of the Great Reform Bill

•1854-1856: Crimean War

•1861-1865: American Civil War

• 1865: President Lincoln assassinated

•1865: Slavery abolished in America

•1870-1871: Franco-Prussian War

•1876: Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone

•1877: Thomas Edison invents the phonograph

•1881: Panama Canal Built

•1883: Automobile motor patented by Dailmer

•1886: Statue of Liberty unveiled in New York

•1896: Opening of the Glasgow Subway

HISTORICAL FIGURES

Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849): American author

Charles Dickens (1812-1870): American author

Mark Twain (1835-1910): American author

Claude Monet (1840-1926): French artist

Camille Pissarro (1830-1903): French artist

NATIONALISM IN MUSIC

Describes increasingly common trend in the nineteenth century for composers to draw on the folk songs, dance, legends, literature, character, and language of their own country as inspiration for musical composition, as opposed to the universal European style that had prevailed (instrumental: Vienna, Austria, Germany/opera: Italy and France)

Important movement in France England Eastern Europe Scandinavia USA

HECTOR BERLIOZ (1803-1869)

Born near Grenoble, France Father was a physician Learned to play the flute and guitar (was only modestly talented on these two instruments)

Berlioz’s father wanted him to become a doctor, so Berlioz moved to Paris to study medicine but hated it

Drops out of medical school: starts going to concerts in Paris

As a young man, was profoundly moved by such great literary works as those of Virgil and Shakespeare

Now in Paris, he was able to hear for the first time the symphonies of Beethoven in performance, and that was a huge revelation for him

Also strongly influenced by opera, especially by the composer Gluck

BERLIOZ CONTINUED 1826: Soon enrolls in the Paris Conservatoire to study composition 1827: saw the Irish actress, Harriet Smithson, in a Shakespeare play in Paris; was very smitten by her. Later, Berlioz had fallen in love with, and become engaged to, Camille Mohe, a young pianist 1830: Competes in the prestigious “Prix de Rome” composition competition, eventually winning it. 1831: Leaves for Rome (to fulfill the stipulations of the Prix de Rome) While in Rome, finds out that Camille has married another man: Berlioz plans to return, and also

thinks about committing suicide. 1832: Berlioz returns to France Finally meets Harriet Smithson in person; she agrees to marry him. Income from commissions (a small source of income); his major source of income was from writing

(editing, writing treatises, musical commentary, etc.) From 1840 onwards, was active touring throughout Europe, promoting and conducting his works, and

earning income as a guest conductor 1850: Appointed head librarian at the Paris Conservatoire (his only “official” musical position) 1854: Harriet Smithson died (they had been separated for some years), and later that year married

Marie Recio 1867: Extended stay in Russia 1868: Became ill and eventually died on March 8, 1869 in Paris

IMPORTANCE OF BERLIOZ

• An important innovation he brought to the process of rehearsing was sectionals

• Important compositions 1830: Symphonie Fantastique 1834: Harold in Italy (large-scale work for viola and orchestra, commissioned by the great violinist, Niccolo Pagenni) 1837: Requiem 1839: Romeo and Juliet Symphony 1840: Funeral and Triumphal Symphony, scored for a wind band of 200 players, first performed outdoors as a part

of a civic parade; 1842: added strings and a final chorus 1849: Te Deum (chorus and orchestra) 1854: L’ Enfance du Christ 1858: Les Troyens (massive opera, based upon Books 2 & 4 of Virgil’s Aeneid)

Books: Les soirees de l’ orchestra (“Evenings with the Orchestra”): 1852 Treastise on Instrumentation (Hugely important work on orchestration; still used today) Memoirs (published posthumously, 1870) The Orchestral Conductor

FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)

Born in Hamburg, Germany Son of a banker Grew up in an intellectual and cultivated environment: his grandfather was a prominent Jewish philosopher

Regarded as the greatest child prodigy since Mozart Was celebrated as a pianist and composer from his early years

Wrote over 100 works by age 20, including 12 string symphonies, the beautiful Octet for 4 violins, 2 violas, and 2 cellos, and the famous Overture to Midsummer Night’s Dream

Wrote five symphonies including the “Reformation” Symphony, No. 5

Made 10 visits to England, where he was very popular Was a colleague of Berlioz & Liszt; basically disapproved of both

MENDELSSOHN CONTINUED

1812: Moved to Berlin 1816: Converted to Lutheranism 1829: Was first to perform Bach’s St. Matthew Passion in the nineteenth century 1846: Wrote the great Oratorio Elijah for the Birmingham, England Music Festival 1835: Appointed conductor of the Leipzig Gerwandhaus Orchestra (important musical position)

1837: Married Cecil Jeanrenaud, had 5 children 1843: Founded the Leipzig Music Conservatory 1839: Gave the world premiere of Schubert’s Great C Major Symphony 1844: Composed the famous Violin Concerto 1847: Died of a series of strokes, shortly after the death of his sister Fanny

FREDERIC CHOPIN (1810-1849) Born near Warsaw, Poland Had a Polish Mother and a French father Was a child prodigy pianist (like Mendelssohn) Also, mostly wrote piano works By age 7: giving public concerts His father taught French in a Warsaw school Studied at the Warsaw Conservatory of Music 1830: Chopin, aged 20, set off on a European tour

CHOPIN CONTINUED

November 30:uprising in Poland Chopin kept traveling west: Vienna, Stuttgart, finally ended up in Paris In Paris: became acquainted with Liszt, Berlioz, and Mendelssohn Moved in intellectual and artistic circles March 23, 1833: Chopin, Liszt, and Hiller performed the Bach Concerto for Three Harpsichords (on pianos)

Introduced to George Sand (female novelist) in 1837; had a relationship with her that lasted for ten years

Was in poor health for much of the last 4 or 5 years of his life Died of Tuberculosis Ex: Nocturne, Sonata no. 2 Bb Minor, Etude in C minor Op. 25 no. 12

FRANZ LISZT (1811-1886)

Born in Hungary Age 13: moved to Paris Like Chopin, a child virtuoso Greatest pianist of his age, and perhaps of all time Became good friends with Berlioz and Chopin Touring superstar of the piano Composer as well as performer (mostly piano works) 1848: Settled in Weimar, Germany, as music director (composed orchestral music instead of piano playing)

1861: Went to Rome and took holy orders (became an Abbe)

The ultimate Romantic figure Avant-garde Incredible, virtuoso performer: superstar of the concert stage Lisztomania (1842)

LISZT COMPOSITIONS Wrote a great deal of piano music: very difficult compositions, expanded the technical limits of piano

playing Also wrote “Symphonic Poems:” relatively short symphonic compositions, in one extended movement,

with contrasting sections (program music) Works

Annees de Pelerinages: Years of Pilgrimage Piano Sonata in B Minor Trios Etudes de concert Les Preludes Mazeppa Hamlet Von der Wiege bis zum Grabe: From the Cradle Trotentanz

Many transcriptions of famous symphonies, overtures, songs, opera arias, etc. for performance at the keyboard (one pianist) Beethoven’s Symphonies 5, 6, 7 Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique Berlioz’s Harold in Italy Saint-Saens Danse Macabre Mozart’s Requiem

Transcription for piano duo: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9

ROMANTIC OPERA

Comic Opera: Spoken dialogue Serious or Grand Opera: Sung dialogue Lyric Opera: half-way between comic and serious opera

The great operas of the 19th century were tragic operas, ending with the death of the hero or heroine

TRAITS OF OPERAS Beautiful Melodies Innovative orchestration Huge orchestras called for (pit orchestras were very large) New instruments developed for opera: Wagner tubas, etc. Coloristic instruments used in opera: English horn, harp, etc. Nationalism: opera texts were in the native language as opposed to Italian Opera plots were often tied to themes of freedom, independence, etc. as countries began to develop

national aspirations National myths & legends were important (Wagner) Two opposing themes in 19th century opera: exoticism (escapism)/Stark (realism) Intense expressiveness/highly charged emotions Programmatic music Vocal virtuosity Blurring boundaries between aria & recitative, and between scenes (Wagner) Eventually breakdown of tonality (Wagner)

GIUSEPPE VERDI (1813-1901) The Italian Opera Composer of the 19th century, and one of the two giants of 19th century opera

Was loosely associated with the Risorgimento: Italian movement towards nationalization

V.E.R.D.I. stands for Victorio Emanuel Ri Di, King of Italy

Born near Busseto, Italy Early studies in music compositions To Milan (age 20) to continue his studies Returned to Busseto to be the local music master Married local girl, Margherita Barezzi, 1836 Had two children, both of whom died in infancy Died in 1901 of a stroke

VERDI’S WORKSOperas

Macbeth Rigoletto Luisa Miller Il trovatore La traviata Un ballo in maschera La forza del destino Aida Otello Falstaff

Requiem is very massive and frequently performedLast work was Four Sacred Pieces (1898)Nearly all of his operas were Serious operasLibrettos and plots were from Romantic authors and poets, also Shakespeare

RICHARD WAGNER (1813-1883)

The dominant figure of the nineteenth century music

Born in Leipzig, Germany Father died when he was 6 months old; his stepfather was an actor

1828: heard Beethoven’s 7th and 9th symphonies: awaken his interest in music

1831: Enrolled in the University of Leipzig; continued some music studies and composition studies on the side

1833: First opera (Die Feen) and first musical position (choir master at Wurzburg)

1836: Marrie Minna Planer- disastrous marriage, moved to Riga (Northeast of Poland, on Baltic Sea)

WAGNER CONTINUED 1839: Fled Riga to escape creditors and ended up in Paris 1840: completed Rienzi 1842: Moved to Dresden, Germany; Rienzi performed there to great acclaim Eventually appointed court conductor at Dresden 1848: (Year of Revolution) Became involved in uprising ; uprisings in Dresden and elsewhere eventually suppressed,

Wagner fled to Switzerland Was in exile in Switzerland for about 12 years Wrote philosophical treatises:

“The Artwork of the Future” (Opera as “Gesamtkunstwerk” which translates as Total Artwork) Opera and Drama

Also wrote the libretto for the Ring Cycle, began work on the music for the Ring Cycle 1862: Finally parted from Minna 1864: Mad King Ludwig II succeed to the throne of Bavaria

Huge fan of Wagner and brought Wagner to Munich and paid off Wagner’s debt

1865: Tristan und Isolde premiered in Munich: conductor was Hans von Bulow; his wife, Cosima, was already involved with Wagner 1870: Cosima divorced and married Wagner

1876: Created Bayreuth- New Opera House Bayreuth Festival in existence ever since The Ring Cycle

Died of a heart attack

WAGNER’S STYLE

Harmony: chromaticism, blurs tonality Orchestrations: Huge orchestras needed in the pit and new instruments developed Flute, clarinet, oboe, English horn, bass clarinet, bassoon, horn, Wagner tuba, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, harps, etc.

Thunder machines, anvils Continuous action: divisions between recitatives and arias blurred; divisions between scenes and acts blurred; more flow on stage

Nationalism in opera (Use of Germanic folk-songs, legends, etc.)

JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833-1897)

Born in Hamburg Child Virtuoso on piano Age 20: Met Robert Schumann, who would go on to champion

Brahms’ music Brahms: would go on record as opposed to the new music

school of Liszt and Wagner Brahms settled in Vienna In demand as a pianist, conductor, and composer: traveled

widely Composed orchestral, vocal, chamber, and piano music; no

operas Good friends with Clara Schumann

Brahms helped Clara through the crisis of the last years of Robert Schumann’s life)

Also helped raise her 7 children She performed many of Brahms’ piano works Died in 1896 and Brahms died one year later

BRAHMS’S WORKS

Op. 45 A German Requiem Op. 53 Alto Rhapsody for contralto, orchestra, and male voices Op. 80 Academic Festival Overture Op. 81 Tragic Overture Op. 77 Violin Concerto Op. 102 Double Concerto for Violin and Cello

MIKHAIL GLINKA (1804-1857)

One of the early Russian “nationalists” Wrote operas in the Russian language Used modal scales Used quotations from Russian folk songs Ex: Ruslan and Ludmila - Overture

MODEST MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)

Opera with libretto in Russian Colorful orchestration: lots of percussion (sounds like church bells ringing in the city square)

Definitely sounds model Folk hymn quotation Used Russian language Ex: Night on Bald Mountain, Pictures at an Exhibition

PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)

Born in Votkinsky, Russia Was a nationalist in that his operas use the Russian

language & are based on works of Russian literature Also used Russian folk songs occasionally However, his music is much more westernized than

Mussorgsky’s, etc. Trained in law to hold government office (civil servant) However, entered St. Petersburg Conservatory at age 19

(when the conservatory opened) Appointed Professor of Music at Moscow Conservatory one

year after graduating from the St. Petersburg Conservatory Attempted suicide, had a nervous breakdown Widow Madame von Mect: becomes his patron

Provides him with an annual income but only if they never meet

Successful composer and conductor Died of cholera (suicide?)

TCHAIKOVSKY’S WORKS

Great composer of ballet scores Nutcracker Sleeping Beauty Swan Lake

Also wrote Mazeppa Queen of Spades Eugene Onegin Romeo and Juliet (programmatic)

ANTONIN DVORAK (1841-1904)

Important Czech nationalist composer Influenced by Brahms Works:

New World Symphony Cello Concerto Violin Concerto Piano Concerto Rusalka (opera) Requiem Stabat Mater

Used Slavonic Dances Used Czech folk songs and dance Similar to Brahms in orchestration, size of orchestra, use of mellow timbres (liked French horn, viola, and cello)

Slightly modal in tonal inflections Use of dotted rhythms (from Czech folk dance) Use of the “Dumka” (From Slavic ballads: introspective sections contrasted with cheerful, quicker sections)