Music Appreciation Class #11 The Romantic Period, Part 1 Schubert, Mendelssohn(s), Schumann(s) and Chopin

Romantic Upper case definition  Reaction against “reason”  Aesthetics Heightened emotion Nature Children Struggle with nature Death

Aesthetic Goals and Ideals fantasy grotesque whimsy imaginative playful reaching for eternity longing for the unrequited artist and art

“The Artist” Image  Poverty  Health  Suffering  Eccentric  Exotic

Liebestod Romantic ideal  Love/death Sturm und Drang  Storm and stress/urge/longing

Culture Purpose  “Beauty for Beauty’s Sake” Robert Lewis Stevenson  Must beauty be “beautiful?”  Emotion Emotionalism?

Audience No more patronage Middle-class  Educated  Musical

New terms Artist Genius Inspiration Dilettante Professional Amateur

Franz Peter Schubert ( )

Influences Beethoven  Salieri  Mozart

Catalogue Nine symphonies Chamber music 600 Lieder

Lieder Piano Story-teller Subconscious Song “cycle” Text Prose Poetry  Heine, Schiller, Goethe

Der Erlkönig

Accompaniment? Piano  Carriage  Horse  Dissonance  Melody

Wiener Kaffeehaus and jail Meeting place  Artists  Writers  Poets  Musicians Political radicals

Schubertiade Schubert Abend  Informal Fun Fame Food

Jessye Norman

Felix Mendelssohn (Bartholdy) ( )

Style Elegant Sensitive “Miniature”s  Songs Without Words: “Spring” Songs Without Words: “Spring” Incidental Music  A Midsummer Night’s Dream Wedding march

Image of “The Artist?” Wealthy Musical prodigy Handsome Intelligent  Languages  Artist Jewish

Mendelssohn and Bach CPE Bach’s widow St. Matthew’s Passion  Devotee  Contrapuntal influence

Fanny Mendelssohn (Hensel) )

Composer?! Same education More talent and creativity? Pseudonym  Handwriting  Correspondence  Style

Charles Gounod said... “Madame Hensel was an unforgettable musician, an excellent pianist, an intellectually superior woman. She was small, almost slight, but the fire that burned in her eyes revealed extraordinary energy. As a composer, she was exceptionally gifted...”

Robert Schumann ( )

Romantic ideal Dichter  Poet, writer Denker  Philosopher Law student  Friedrich Wieck

Romantic paradox Whimsical and refined Dreamy and gritty Vehement and visionary

“Scenes From Childhood” Träumerei  Katharine Hepburn “Song of Love” Katharine Hepburn “Song of Love” The Wild Horseman

Health Hand Physical health  Mercury?  Syphilis? Mental health  Visions Institutionalized

Musical pyramid Only composer to master compositions on one instrument (the piano) before proceeding to larger compositions; Solo piano for over 8 years; 1 st orchestral composition not until 1842; Difficult large structures.

Cultural Accomplishments Davidsbündler  Philistines! Florestan und Eusebius Neue Zeitschrift für Musik”  1 st musical journal/criticism New composers/styles  Chopin and Brahms

Clara Wieck Schumann ( )

Limitations... "I once believed that I possessed creative talent, but I have given up this idea; a woman must not desire to compose — there has never yet been one able to do it. Should I expect to be the one?"

“The High Priestess of Music” Father & Teacher  60-year “amateur” career Highly accomplished performer Inspiration  Robert’s most passionate music  150 songs in 1840 alone! Influenced  Mendelssohn, Brahms, Chopin

Musician, Wife, Mother Finances  Concerts  Teaching  Premieres Eight children  Revolution of Dresden rescue

Rumors...

Frédéric Chopin ( )

Web sites html html

Nationalism Folk tunes Harmonies Influence: Wagner, Liszt Forms Dedications  “Revolutionary Etude” (“November Uprising” 1830) “Revolutionary Etude” Sviatoslav Richter Heart

Style New language Originality Exclusivity  170+ piano No news! Edits Melody

Paris Composer Performer Teacher

Parisian Friends Franz Liszt Hector Berlioz Vincenzo Bellini Felix Mendelssohn Ferdinand Hiller Heinrich Heine

Salon society Schubert abend concerts Social, musical, political, intellectual

Personality “The lonely artist is surrounded by frivolous society.” “Romantic” appeal?

Romance Women as inspiration  Piano Concerto #1 dedication: “I have not yet exchanged a syllable with her of whom I dream every night. While my thoughts were with her I composed the Adagio of my concerto”.

Aurore Duvedant...

or George Sand?

Feminist! "I know that I am the slave and you the lord. The law of the land has made you my master....you have the right of the stronger party, and society confirms you in it; but over my will, sir, you are powerless."

Odd couple Prude vs. radical Frail vs. healthy Demure vs. aggressive Confidence, intellect, sexuality

Inspiration 21 Nocturnes  Artur Rubinstein Artur Rubinstein John Field ( )

21 st Century