Romantic Era Music: Program Music, Lied, Opera, Wagner & Nationalism
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Romantic Era Music
Program Music
Program music sought a more free and open expression, moving beyond structural criteria to embrace extramusical elements.
The Program Symphony
A symphony developed around a program, description, or literary argument. Creator: Hector Berlioz (1803-1869), with Symphonie Fantastique (1830).
The Symphonic Poem
An orchestral composition based on a single movement or descriptive poetic element. Creator: Franz Liszt, with The Preludes (1849).
The Lied
The German word for "song," a short piece for voice and piano set to a poetic text. These pieces feature a simple melody, with the piano expressing the mood and meaning. Simple forms are used, including:
- Strophic Lied
- Bipartite Lied
- Tripartite Lied
Italian Opera
Major schools emerged, marking the evolution of the genre in Europe. Key figures include:
- Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868): The Barber of Seville (1816)
- Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1868): L'Elisir d'Amore
- Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)
- Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): Nabucco, Rigoletto, La Traviata, Aida
Late 19th-century literary realism influenced music, creating verismo. Main representatives:
- Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945): Cavalleria Rusticana
- Ruggiero Leoncavallo (1857-1919): Pagliacci
- Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924): La Bohème
Wagner's Ideas
Richard Wagner (1813-1883) revolutionized opera and music. His music is both revered and hated, but his greatness is undeniable. He aimed to create a musical drama, drawing inspiration from Germanic mythology. Monumental works include:
- Tannhäuser
- The Ring of the Nibelung (tetralogy)
- Tristan und Isolde
Nationalist Movements
Characterized by the use of folklore in two ways:
- Literally copying sources.
- Imitating or recreating characteristic features: scales, melodic patterns, rhythms, dances, variation techniques, etc.
Great Romantic Ballets
Ballets continued to evolve towards technical virtuosity, creating new scenic effects and more stylized figures.