Music HistoryMusic HistoryAn Abbreviated History
of Western Classical Music
An Abbreviated History of
Western Classical Music
The Romantic Period1820 - 1900
The Romantic Period1820 - 1900
Nationalism Liberalism Emotionalism
Nationalism Liberalism Emotionalism
The Romantic Period was a time of “isms:”
The Romantic Period1820 - 1900
The Romantic Period1820 - 1900
Significant Events: American Civil War Invention of the telephone, telegraph,
photograph, railway, steamboat Rise of capitalism and socialism
Significant Events: American Civil War Invention of the telephone, telegraph,
photograph, railway, steamboat Rise of capitalism and socialism
The Romantic Period1820 - 1900
The Romantic Period1820 - 1900
Achievements in science: Louis Pasteur
Pasteurization process Samuel F. B. Morse
Morse Code Charles Darwin
Theory of evolution Thomas A. Edison
Invented light bulb, telegraph, phonograph, microphone, etc.)
Achievements in science: Louis Pasteur
Pasteurization process Samuel F. B. Morse
Morse Code Charles Darwin
Theory of evolution Thomas A. Edison
Invented light bulb, telegraph, phonograph, microphone, etc.)
The Romantic Period1820 - 1900
The Romantic Period1820 - 1900
Achievements in literature: Leo Tolstoy (War and Peace)
Herman Melville (Moby Dick)
Mark Twain (Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer)
Charles Dickens (Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol)
Achievements in literature: Leo Tolstoy (War and Peace)
Herman Melville (Moby Dick)
Mark Twain (Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer)
Charles Dickens (Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol)
Musical CharacteristicsMusical Characteristics
Very expressive, emotional, tense, moody Melody, harmony, and rhythm explored to
their fullest yet Greater interest (by composers) in wind
instruments Emphasis on the virtuoso performer Nationalism
Composers incorporated native folk songs and styles into their music
Program music Russia was the leader of this movement
Very expressive, emotional, tense, moody Melody, harmony, and rhythm explored to
their fullest yet Greater interest (by composers) in wind
instruments Emphasis on the virtuoso performer Nationalism
Composers incorporated native folk songs and styles into their music
Program music Russia was the leader of this movement
Important InstrumentsImportant Instruments
Trombone and tuba first used in the symphony orchestra
Valves added to trumpets and French horns Metal keys added to all woodwinds Saxophone invented in 1840 by Adolfe Sax Improvements made to the piano
Steel frame Thicker strings Pedal mechanism improved
Trombone and tuba first used in the symphony orchestra
Valves added to trumpets and French horns Metal keys added to all woodwinds Saxophone invented in 1840 by Adolfe Sax Improvements made to the piano
Steel frame Thicker strings Pedal mechanism improved
Instrumental Musical Forms
Instrumental Musical Forms
Romantic Symphony Longer, additional movements
Program symphony Depicts scenes in nature or tells a story
Tone Poem One long movement
Programmatic (tells a story through music)
Concert Overture Grew out the popularity of opera overtures
Romantic Symphony Longer, additional movements
Program symphony Depicts scenes in nature or tells a story
Tone Poem One long movement
Programmatic (tells a story through music)
Concert Overture Grew out the popularity of opera overtures
Symphony No. 6, op. 68 “Pastoral”By
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Symphony No. 6, op. 68 “Pastoral”By
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony
Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony
Sonata Form - expanded to five movements
I. Awakening of joyous feelings upon arrival in the
country. Allegro ma non troppo
II. By the brook. Andante molto mosso
III. Happy gathering of country folk. Allegro
IV. Thunderstorm; Storm. Allegro
V. Shepherd's song; cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm. Allegretto
Sonata Form - expanded to five movements
I. Awakening of joyous feelings upon arrival in the
country. Allegro ma non troppo
II. By the brook. Andante molto mosso
III. Happy gathering of country folk. Allegro
IV. Thunderstorm; Storm. Allegro
V. Shepherd's song; cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm. Allegretto
Symphony No. 9, op. 125 “Choral”By
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Symphony No. 9, op. 125 “Choral”By
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Beethoven’s Ninth SymphonyBeethoven’s Ninth Symphony
The symphony is in four movements, marked as follows:
1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
2. Molto vivace
3. Adagio molto e cantabile
4. Presto/recitative - Allegro ma non troppo/recitative - Vivace/recitative - Adagio cantabile/recitative - Allegro assai/recitative - Presto/recitative: "O Freunde" - Allegro assai: "Freude, schöner Götterfunken" - Alla marcia - Allegro assai vivace: "Froh, wie seine Sonnen" - Andante maestoso: "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!" - Adagio ma non troppo, ma divoto: "Ihr, stürzt nieder" - Allegro energico, sempre ben marcato: "Freude, schöner Götterfunken" / "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!" - Allegro ma non tanto: "Freude, Tochter aus Elysium!" - Prestissimo: "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!"
The symphony is in four movements, marked as follows:
1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
2. Molto vivace
3. Adagio molto e cantabile
4. Presto/recitative - Allegro ma non troppo/recitative - Vivace/recitative - Adagio cantabile/recitative - Allegro assai/recitative - Presto/recitative: "O Freunde" - Allegro assai: "Freude, schöner Götterfunken" - Alla marcia - Allegro assai vivace: "Froh, wie seine Sonnen" - Andante maestoso: "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!" - Adagio ma non troppo, ma divoto: "Ihr, stürzt nieder" - Allegro energico, sempre ben marcato: "Freude, schöner Götterfunken" / "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!" - Allegro ma non tanto: "Freude, Tochter aus Elysium!" - Prestissimo: "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!"
Symphonie FantastiqueBy
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
Symphonie FantastiqueBy
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
Symphony FantastiqueSymphony FantastiqueThe symphony is a piece of program music which tells the story of "an artist gifted with a lively imagination" who has "poisoned himself with opium" in the "depths of despair" because of "hopeless love." There are five movements, which was unconventional for a symphony at the time:
1. Rêveries - Passions (Dreams - Passions)2. Un bal (A Ball)3. Scène aux champs (Scene at the Country)4. Marche au supplice (March to the Scaffold)5. Songe d'une nuit de sabbat (Dream of a Witches' Sabbath)
The symphony is a piece of program music which tells the story of "an artist gifted with a lively imagination" who has "poisoned himself with opium" in the "depths of despair" because of "hopeless love." There are five movements, which was unconventional for a symphony at the time:
1. Rêveries - Passions (Dreams - Passions)2. Un bal (A Ball)3. Scène aux champs (Scene at the Country)4. Marche au supplice (March to the Scaffold)5. Songe d'une nuit de sabbat (Dream of a Witches' Sabbath)
Barber of Seville OvertureWilliam tell Overture
By Gioacchino Antonio Rossini (1782-1868)
Barber of Seville OvertureWilliam tell Overture
By Gioacchino Antonio Rossini (1782-1868)
The NutcrackerBy
Peter Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
The NutcrackerBy
Peter Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Morning and In the Hall of the Mountain King
From Peer GyntBy
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
Morning and In the Hall of the Mountain King
From Peer GyntBy
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)Norway’s greatest composer
German OperaGerman OperaRichard Wagner (ree-card
vahgner)1813-1883
Richard Wagner (ree-card vahgner)
1813-1883The Ring of the Nibelungen
Das Rheingold
Die Walküre
Siegfried
Götterdämmerung
Wagner’s RingWagner’s Ring Composed from 1848 to 1874 and produced
theatrically for the first time in 1876, The
Ring represents major turning points in the
history of opera, as well as in orchestral music,
the art of singing and the production of operas.
Use of the leit motif
Comparisons to modern films
Composed from 1848 to 1874 and produced
theatrically for the first time in 1876, The
Ring represents major turning points in the
history of opera, as well as in orchestral music,
the art of singing and the production of operas.
Use of the leit motif
Comparisons to modern films
The EndThe End