1. General Characteristics of Romantic Music Dynamics extended, changes more frequently, less predictable Range of tempos extended, more frequent, more adjectives Melodies are longer, “yearning” quality, rubato Harmony explores further, modulations, chromatic Forms blur

2. Franz Schubert Song, Die Forelle (The Trout) What is the form/structure of this piece? What is the relationship between the melody and the accompaniment? Is one more important than the other? What is the atmosphere of this song? How does Schubert create it? How does Schubert create the effect of water?

3. Fryderyk Chopin Prelude in E minor for Piano On what other piece of music is this Prelude modelled? What is the form of this piece? What is the relationship between the melody and the accompaniment? What shape or direction do they move?

4. Schumann, Traumerei from Kinderscenen What is the relationship between the melody and the accompaniment? What is the form? What makes this a “character piece”? What is the atmosphere? How does Schumann achieve this? Describe the characteristics of the melody?

5. Giuseppe Verdi, Otello What is the source of the story? How accurately does it reflect the original? Describe the nature of the melody? In what ways is it easy to sing? In what ways is it difficult? How realistic is this opera? What drives the story? What are reference motives? This opera is associated with Italian nationalism. How so?

6. Johannes Brahms Fourth Movement from Symphony No. 4 in E minor What is a passacaglia? What is its significance to this piece? How does Brahms achieve harmonic and melodic variation? Describe the length of variations and their relationship to each other. How does B Section relate to the A sections?

7. Pucinni, Madame Butterfuly, “ Un bel di ” Describe the nature of the melody How does Pucinni reinforce the importance of the melody? Describe the relationship between recitatives and arias What is a da capo aria? How is it used here? How does the music reflect the drama of the story?

8. Mahler, Symphony No. 2, Fourth Movement In what way is this symphony programmatic? What is the overall form or structure to this symphony? How does this compare to a symphony by a Classical composer like Haydn or Mozart? How does this symphony relate to Beethoven’s 5th and 9th Symphonies?

9. Richard Wagner Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde What are leitmotives? What is the relationship between this piece and Hitler’s facism of the 1930/40’s?

10. Bedrich Smetana Symphonic Poem, The Moldau What is a tone poem Is this music programmatic? How so? What is orchestral colour? Does this piece have broad or narrow palette of orchestral colour?

11. Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune How does this piece relate to the Impressionism movement in art? The Symbolist poet Mallarmé wrote the text on which this music is based. What is the poem and how does the music reflect it? Explain the significance of the opening melody. What are its important musical characteristics?