Major Musical Forms and Movements of the Romantic Era

Characteristics of Romantic Music

General Features

• Modern orchestra size and appearance.
• Development and prominence of brass instruments.
• Music independent of external function (absolute music).
• Use of non-classical forms.
• Prominence of the piano (often called the "century of the piano").
• Increased use of chromaticism.

Key Musical Forms

• Symphonic Poem: A descriptive piece for orchestra.
• Lied: Voice with piano accompaniment.

Lied: Vocal Music Form and Structure

• Definition: A consistent form involving setting a poem to music for singer and piano.
• Structure: ABA.
• Key Creator: Franz Schubert.
• Common Topics: Love, death, and nature.
• Example: La Trucha (The Trout) by Schubert.

19th Century Opera

Opera evolved significantly, occupying a prominent place in the nineteenth century due to great literary production, the professionalization of composers, and a growing concern for social and cultural aspects.

Key Features of 19th Century Opera

• A characteristic manifestation of continuous music, where arias, duets, and other fragments are connected seamlessly.
• The overture loses importance, often reduced to a mere prelude.
• Involvement of many extras, large choruses, and complex characters.
• Strong influence of literature, legends, and the creation of mysterious environments, reflecting the traditions of each country.

Opera Verista (Verismo)

This type of opera is more realistic, rejecting romantic idealization. It often becomes cruel and critical of the society of its time.

Zarzuela (Spanish Lyric-Dramatic Genre)

In Spain, the repertoire was mostly Italian until the late nineteenth century. The triumphs of the Zarzuela, particularly the short works known as género chico (short genre), reflected the most characteristic aspects of Spanish society.

• Duration: Typically brief (around one hour).
• Benefit: The short duration allowed theaters to represent two works in one evening, reducing costs for the theater management.

The Symphonic Orchestra

The Symphonic Orchestra is the largest instrumental grouping in Western music. It incorporated new instruments thanks to continuous improvements in instrument construction.

The Impulse of Musical Nationalism

A new musical movement called Nationalism arose in Europe in the mid-nineteenth century. This artistic movement is characterized by the appearance of musical pieces that utilize elements specific to the composer's country of origin (e.g., folk melodies, rhythms, or stories).

Major Nationalist Schools

Major nationalist schools emerged in:

• Russia
• Czechia and Slovakia
• Norway
• Finland
• Hungary
• Spain

Spanish Musical Nationalism

The late nineteenth century saw a new era in the history of Spanish music, known as Spanish Musical Nationalism, which was inspired by folklore. This movement was significantly driven by the figure of Felipe Pedrell.

Musical Impressionism

Impressionism appeared in France at the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Characteristics of Impressionism

• Fragmentation of melody and rhythm.
• Voluntary metric imprecision.
• Openness to external and non-traditional sound worlds.
• Harmonic and formal freedom.
• Focus on researching new sonic impressions.

Key Composers

• Claude Debussy
• Maurice Ravel
• Erik Satie
• Manuel de Falla
• Alexander Scriabin