Music of the

Romantic Period
Romantic music as a movement that evolved from the
formats, genres and musical ideas established in earlier
periods, such as the Classical Period, and went further in
the name of expression and syncretism combining music
with other art-form drawn from sources such as literature,
or history (historical figures) or nature itself.
It was the period when composers were inspired by romantic love, the
supernatural and even dark themes such as death. Some composers
drew inspiration from the history and folk songs of their native country;
others drew influences from foreign lands.
Music of the Romantic Period is easily identifiable as compared to
music forms from other periods. Tone color became richer; harmony
became more intricate. Dynamics, pitch and tempo had wider ranges
and the use of rubato (a slight holding back or pressing forward of
tempo) became popular.
Some musical forms of the Classical Period were continued during the
Romantic Period. However, Romantic composers adjusted or altered
some of these forms to make them more subjective. Romance,
nocturne, etude and polonaise are examples of 19th century music.
Romance refers to a short, lyrical piece for piano. It can
also be for a solo instrument but with piano
accompaniment.
Nocturne which means "night piece" in French, is a slow,
lyrical and intimate composition for piano.
Etude which means “study” in French, is a composition
meant to help a student learn difficult techniques and/or
help performers master techinal difficulties.
Polonaise was originally a Polish court dance; it is a
composition for triple meter piano
In music, the nineteenth century saw the creation and
evolution of new genres such as:
1. Programmatic music is a new development during the
Romantic Period. Program music is instrumental music
associated with a story or poem.
2. Absolute Music or Non program music is an
instrumental music written for its own sake, and for which
the composer did not intend a program.
3. Program Symphony is an instrumental composition in
several movements based to some extent on a literary or
pictorial idea.
In music, the nineteenth century saw the creation and
evolution of new genres such as:
4. Symphonic Poem is a one-movement orchestral
composition based to some extent on a literary or pictorial
idea. The symphonic poem was developed by Franz Liszt
5. Incidental Music is music intended to be performed
before and during a play to set the mood for scenes or
highlight dramatic action. (Today's movie scores may be
regarded as examples of Incidental Music.)
vocal music was also transformed during the Romantic
period:
1. Romantic Art Song is a musical composition for solo
voice and piano. The accompaniment of a romantic art
song is an integral part of the composers conception,
and it serves as an interpretive partner to the voice. The
mood of an art song is often set by a brief piano
introduction and summed up at the end by a piano
section called a postlude.
vocal music was also transformed during the Romantic
period:
2. Song Cycle is a set of romantic art songs that may be
unified by a story line that runs through the poems, or by
musical ideas linking the songs.
3. Lied is a romantic Art Song with a German text.
The orchestra in the Romantic Period was larger and more
varied in tone color than the classical orchestra. The
orchestra grew in its number of instruments. Toward the end
of the Romanticism, an orchestra might include close to 100
musicians,

During the Romantic Period, piano technology and resistance

were improved. A cast-iron frame was introduced to hold the
strings under greater tension. The piano's hammers were
covered with fell. The damper pedal was developed allowing
a sonorous blend of tones from all registers of the piano.