UNIT III

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
OF THE ROMANTIC
PERIOD
THIRD GRADING PERIOD
• Romantic Periods described by some musicians,
composers and researchers around the world as
a cultural movement that stressed emotion,
imagination, individualism and freedom of
expression. it was characterized by expanding
the formal structure within a composition and
making the pieces more passionate and
expressive.
• Nationalism is one of the main features of this era. This is
evidently shown in some compositions made by Romantic
composers. One of which is the Polonaise of Frederic Chopin, a
dance composition for piano which is famous in Poland until
today. In addition, the composers’ focuses mainly on individuality
of style and expressive aims and subjects.
• Emotions, variety of musical style in compositions, freedom of
expression are only a few things that characterized the music of
the Romantic period. It was during the heights of popularity of
Ludwig Van Beethoven, one of the great composers during the
Classical period made a great distinction to change the phase of
composing music by bridging the music from Classical to
Romantic era.
• The culture of extensive music education in Europe extends from the
Classical period and explored more in this era. Orchestra grows in
number and became limitless, composers explored instrumentation
and many compositions were inspired by emotions in addition to a
musical theme.
• There are some facts about Romantic musical period that everybody
should know. The piano music is in free form such as fantasy,
rhapsody, ballad and nocturne and program music was expressed in
tone poems and Symphony Fantastique. The music was used to tell
stories and express ideas. Most of the composers were proud of their
country’s music and often use folk songs in their works.
• The music during this period used forms
borrowed from Classical music and made
them bigger longer songs and more
instruments. The themes they wrote in their
composition are mainly about nature,
literature, history and feelings.
• The Romantic Period flourished during 1820-
1900 and took its name from medieval
“romances”.
• It was the period when composers were inspired
by romantic love, and the supernatural and even
dark themes such as death.
• Some composers drew inspiration from the
history and folk songs of their native countries;
other drew influences from foreign lands.
• Some composers created their works that are
deeply rooted in classical traditions. Others were
more revolutionary.
• Characteristics of the Romantic Period
a. Emotion, feeling
b. Exuberance, excess
c. Subjectivity
d. Imbalance
e. Freedom of Expression
Significant Breakthroughs
• In History
The Industrial Revolution brought in new economic and social
problems and saw the rise of capitalism and socialism.
It was the period of important wars; The Crimean War, The Civil
War in the United States, and the Franco-Prussian War.

• In Science
Photography, canning, the railway and the steamboat, steel
production, and the telephone and telegraph invented.
• In Art
Manet, Degas, Renoir, and Rodin dominated painting
and sculpture.

• In Literature
Emerson, Longfellow, Poe, Hawthorne, and Mark
Twain Lead the great writers of the Period.
• During the Romantic period, the orchestra was larger
and more varied in tone color than the classical
orchestra.
• The orchestra grew in number of instruments during
the Romantic period.
• Toward the end of the Romanticism, an orchestra
might include to close to 100 musicians.
• Piano technology and resistance were improved.
• Some forms of the Classical Period were continued during the
Romantic period.
• However, Romantic composers adjusted or altered some of these
forms to make it more subjective.

• ROMANCE, NOCTURNE, ETUDE, AND POLONAISE are

2. NOCTURNE
which means “night piece” in French is a slow, lyrical, and intimate composition for piano solo.

3. MAZURKA
is a Polish Dance music in triple time signature.

4. ETUDE
which means “study” in French, is a composition meant to help a student learn difficult playing
techniques and/or help performer’s master technical difficulties.
5. PRELUDE
- Is an introductory piece of music.
6. Waltz
- Is a German dance in triple meter.
7. IMPROMPTU
- Is a short musical piece for solo instrument.
8. SCHERZO
- Is a musical movement of playful character, typically in ABA form.
9. POLONAISE
- Was originally a Polish court dance. It is a composition for Triple meter for
piano.
B. LARGE INSTRUMENTAL FORMS
1. PROGRAM MUSIC – Is a new development during Romantic Period. Program
music is instrumental music associated with a story, or a poem.
2. ABSOLUTE MUSIC OR NONPROGRAM MUSIC – Is an instrumental music
written for it’s 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 a pictorial idea.
4. SYMPHONIC POEM – Is a one-movement orchestral composition based to some
extent on a literary or a pictorial idea. The symphonic poem was developed by Franz
List.
5. INCIDENTAL MUSIC – Is a 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)
PERFORMANCE TASK
PAANO MAGDIWANG NG araw ng mga
puso ang mga pilipino
- COMMERCIAL
- APPLY PROGRAM MUSIC
- 2. 30 SECONDS OR 3 MINS. ONLY
 ART IN THE NEOCLASSIC PERIOD
• France in late 1700s and early 1800s were marked by
civil wars, political resistance, and social unrest, a
series of events which was later classified under the
blanket term FRENCH REVOLUTION.
• It was a time of great insurgency and rebellion,
characterized by countless violent uprisings and
resistance by the middle class against the prevailing
noble class of the time.
•He often employed grand
theatrical gestures to make the
characters of his paintings come
to life.
NEOCLASSICAL SCULPTURE
• Is profoundly influenced by classical forms of art
taking roots from the period the Renaissance and
extending across the Early Baroque Period.
• Sculptors of this period were keen to avoid the
overly dramatic expression and highly
extravagant poses on colored marble surfaces
characteristic of the late baroque sculpture.
•The striking detail of the sculpture
lies in the achievement of symmetry
and balance, as well as the perfect
display of elegance and simplicity.
• Houdon established his reputation in portrait
busts and statues of poets, philosophers, and
composers such as:
• Christopher Willibald Gluck
• Francois-Marie Arouet also known as Voltaire
• Political figures: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas
Jefferson, and Napoleon Bonaporte
• Houdon was commissioned for a marble statue of
George Washington for the Virginia State Capitol
in Richmond Virginia.
• To this day, the Statue of George Washington by
Houdon is considered as one of the most accurate
sculptural depictions of the late US President.
NEOCLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE
• Neoclassical architecture is the rebirth of the ancient
classical architecture of Greece and Rome during the
middle eighteenth century in Europe.
• Architects of the period provided details on the
structures embodying classical elements based on the
principles of simplicity and symmetry.
• The influence of Neoclassical art far extends to other
countries outside of Europe.
• In United States, one of the Founding Fathers of
America, Thomas Jefferson, drew upon classical ideals and
elements when he laid the architectural plans for the state.
• He designed the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond
Virginia which has been called one of the ten buildings
that changed America.
• Scottish architect Robert Adam introduced the neoclassical style of
architecture to Great Britain.
• Adam incorporated ideas from the Ancient Greece and Rome into his
architectural structures.
• He designed some of the townhouse in London such as the 20 Portman
Square and the Chandos House.
• He also redesigned a number of English country houses such as those at
Syon Park and Osterley Park.
• He also worked on the layout of the Charlotte Square and the Register
House in Edinburgh.