ROMANTICISM
Cristina Montins Ortiz
Federico Escribano Huertas
CHARACTERISTICS
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The Romanticism covered the whole 19th century and it was the most outstanding period in the history of music: for the first time, the language of sounds acquired the status of privileged language above the rest of arts.
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Romantic music was the result of the new society that appeared since the French Revolution, which praised mankind's freedom above all things. The composer was no longer constraint by a patron, so he was admired and recognized as a 'genius´.
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Musical characteristics:
- music expresses freedom
- melody was the most important element
- flexible beats
- dynamic effects
- Small and intimate forms appeared, written for piano and voice. They were composed to be enjoyed during intimate evenings.
- Large spectacular forms like opera or symphonic music.
- Timbric richness of the orchestra was completely developed.
- Virtuosity was part of the performance.
- Nationalism appeared as part of Romanticism, which reinforce the idea of individuality and also to highlight the typical and characteristic aspects through folklore.