If you ask most people what romantic song they know, you will get answers like "All of Me" by John Legend or most of Marvin Gaye's songs. In this section of Saad News, we will introduce romantic music. Stay with us.
In the early years of the 19th century, we witness the flourishing of Romanticism, a cultural movement focused on imagination, individuality, nature, and the expression of pure emotions. Romantic writers emphasized freedom of expression. A significant part of Romantic literature is autobiographical, and many famous stories with unconventional, irrational, and supernatural themes were written based on imagination and dreams. These features can also be observed in the visual arts, music, and the culture of the period. In this article, we aim to discuss the characteristics and transformations of Romantic music, which will serve as an introduction to more detailed articles that will gradually be published on the website.
The Romantic music period spans from 1820 to 1900. While elements of Romanticism emerged earlier, there is significant overlap, to the point where some composers are considered both classical and Romantic, such as Beethoven. Many composers worked during this period, and the list of composers is undoubtedly longer than in previous periods, leading to great diversity in the music of this time.
Due to political and economic changes, wars, and inflation, the support of the arts by patronage significantly decreased. Ordinary musicians no longer served at royal courts or churches, and only a few composers could make a living solely from composing (which was a reason for their parents’ disapproval of their career choice). Many composers supported themselves through public performances, teaching, and music criticism.
Romantic composers were much more independent economically and socially than their predecessors. They worked not only for commissions but mostly to fulfill their own inner needs. Some composers also taught piano, using books like Carl Czerny’s (1791-1857) etudes, which are still in use today.
In the 19th century, music was typically written for performance in two venues: halls and private drawing rooms for home concerts or for public performances in concert halls and opera houses.
For the wealthy and middle classes who could afford instruments, music became a suitable outlet for emotional expression. In the evenings, friends and family would gather to play instruments and sing. Music helped them release social pressures by allowing them to express their opinions and, at least for a time, escape thoughts of war, political repression, and other hardships. However, as technologies such as radio and phonographs emerged, these family gatherings for music-making became obsolete.
The number of orchestras grew during this period, and alongside professional orchestras with musicians and singers, such as the London Philharmonic (founded 1813), the New York Philharmonic (founded 1842), the Vienna Philharmonic (founded 1842), and the Paris Conservatory Concert Society (founded 1828), there were also orchestras with amateur musicians.
Romantic music refers to a period in Western classical music that began in the early 19th century and is associated with the Romantic movement. This style emerged after the Classical period and, to some extent, in opposition to it.
Romantic artists focused more on their emotions and personal worlds. They often centered their works on imagination, legends, distant lands, and mysteries that were far removed from ordinary life. Unlike classical works, where logic and reasoning prevailed over emotions, Romantic works were full of human feelings and emotions. The term "Romantic" comes from the word "romance," originally referring to stories or heroes of medieval poetry written in Romance languages. Medieval poems about King Arthur were known as Arthurian romances. Romanticism was initially used in painting and literature in the late 18th century, and later, in the early 19th century, it was adopted by musicians. Romanticism sought passion, imagination, and individuality and was a rebellion against rationalism. Romantic writers broke conventional rules and emphasized freedom of expression.
Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Smetana, Dvořák, Brahms, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner, Mahler.
Personal Style: Romantic art stems from the inner emotions and personal experiences of the artist. Romantic music reflects the personality of the composer, and that is why, with some knowledge of the composers of this period, one can easily distinguish their works from one another.
Expressive Themes: Romantic music often deals with impossible desires, surprises, confessions, excitement, failures, and the undying and unattainable love (such as in Wagner's operas), where the lover faces great challenges and often remains unfulfilled.
Nationalism and Exoticism: Due to the political events and the Industrial Revolution, nationalism spread, and composers began to incorporate the folk songs, dances, culture, and history of their homeland into their music. Over time, composers started to incorporate elements from foreign cultures, leading to what is known as musical exoticism.
Program Music: This type of instrumental music is based on a story, poem, idea, or scene. For example, Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet is inspired by Shakespeare's play, with anxious music representing the rivalry between families and soft melodies reflecting the love and emotions of the story.
In summary, Romantic music refers to the period of Western classical music that began in the early 19th century, where composers sought personal expression, emotional depth, and a connection to the cultural and political movements of their time. Thank you for staying with us.
