Roman music, music produced in Europe roughly between 1815 and 1910, refers to a period rather than a style, and encompasses such diverse approaches to composition and performance as the music of Beethoven, the operas of Verdi, and songs by Schubert. Some of the most frequently used words in Romantic music are: sentiment, mood, emotional, expression, intensity, fantasy, introspection, and dramatic.
While this music is usually in sharp contrast to that of the Baroque and Classical periods, there is a continuity of stylistic development running from the mid-eighteenth century to at least World War I. Thus, much of the music of Haydn and Mozart could be equally at home in the later eighteenth or early nineteenth centuries.
Although the origins of several characteristics commonly associated with Roman music can be seen during these earlier centuries, the changes occurring in intellectual, social, and psychological attitudes at the end of the eighteenth century and beginning of the nineteenth had a profound effect on all the arts.
This period may be viewed as a revolt against the preceding Classical forms, but more importantly it was a search for new sources of expression. The main concerns were the inner man, nature, fantasy, the exotic, the miraculous and the supernatural, and an individual and intimate manner of communication. Music was also becoming more international in outlook.
It is the music of Schubert, who died in 1828 at the age of thirty-one, that can properly be called Romantic. He represents the true essence of Romanticism with its subjective attitude and emphasis on sentiment and mood, and he left a lasting impact on Roman music.
During this period, the size and complexity of orchestras and choral groups increased, partly in response to increasingly larger, more ornate concert halls and opera houses. The number of instruments in a standard string section was doubled to enable an increase in sonority and richness of tone.
The introduction of the valve for brass instruments in the 1820s and 30s brought about more flexibility in playing these instruments, making possible chromatic music and rapid passages in all registers. Other new and exotic instruments, such as the bass clarinet, the alto and bass trombones, cornets, saxophones, and Wagner tubas also helped to increase the orchestra's resources.
The growth of interest in and performances of earlier music, from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, during the Romantic era influenced modern orchestration. The nineteenth-century orchestra can therefore be seen as the accumulation and development of musical innovations made over a period of several hundred years.
The piano underwent a similar development, with an enlargement in its scope and powers of tone production. The standard compass during the middle Romantic era was about seven octaves, and with the addition of the sostenuto and una corda pedals, its technical capacities were greatly expanded.
The increased power of the orchestra and the development of the piano were of profound importance in Roman music, enabling composers to extend the range of sound and expression in novel ways. Romanticism was by no means a unified movement. It was marked by a rich variety of individual traits and styles, some of which were highly conservative while others were experimental and even revolutionary.
Characteristics
- _Nationalism_ - Music influenced by folk music and culture of a particular country. Nationalistic pride was a reaction against the widespread use of Italian opera throughout Europe and the rise of the nation state. Composers such as Bedrich Smetana, Antonin Dvorak and Edvard Grieg used folk music and melodies to create a sense of national identity and pride.
- _Romanticism_ - Emotionally expressive music that was often inspired by literature, art and nature. Romantic composers used a wide range of musical techniques to create a sense of drama, passion and excitement. Composers such as Franz Schubert, Frederic Chopin and Robert Schumann were all associated with Romanticism.
- _Heroism_ - Music that celebrated the heroic deeds of individuals or groups of people. Heroic music was often used in opera, symphonies and other large-scale works. Composers such as Richard Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi were both known for their heroic works.
- _Exoticism_ - Music that was influenced by the music of other cultures, such as the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Exotic music often used unusual instruments, scales and rhythms to create a sense of mystery and intrigue. Composers such as Saint-Saens, Rimsky-Korsakov and Debussy were all influenced by exoticism.