1. Chapter 18: The Late Romantics
Late Romantic Program Music

2. Key Terms
Realism
Symphonic poem
Theme transformation

3. Late Romantic Timeline

4. The Late Romantics 1848 a year of failed revolutions
In France, Italy, & various German states
Hopes for political freedom seemed to die
Many Romantic aspirations died as well
Romanticism lived on, but as nostalgia
1848 a convenient point of demarcation
Early Romantics were dying – Mendelssohn, Chopin, & Schumann died
Revolution & exile transformed Wagner’s career

5. Romanticism and Realism
Dominant trend in literature & art from 1850s on was realism – not Romanticism
Novelists Dickens, Trollope, Eliot, Balzac, Flaubert, Zola, & Howells
Painters Courbet & Eakins
French & Italian opera also more realistic
Wagner’s music dramas not realistic at all
Much late 19th century music assumed an inspirational yet escapist function
Escape from political & economic conditions

6. Late Romantic Program Music
Liszt wrote a series of symphonic poems in the 1850s
A new genre – a one-movement orchestral work with a program in a free musical form
Word “poem” emphasized literary connection
Could be based on a poem, play, or other work
Liszt’s works include Les préludes & Hamlet
Gave new impetus to late Romantic music
Genre was used by Smetana, Chaikovsky, Musorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Strauss, Sibelius, and others

7. Pyotr Ilyich Chaikovsky (1840-1893)
Music not a “respectable” Russian career
Chaikovsky was fortunate to study at the brand-new St. Petersburg Conservatory
Professor at Moscow Conservatory at 26
Long subsidized by wealthy recluse Nadezhda von Meck – though they never met!
A prolific composer
6 symphonies, 11 operas, symphonic poems, chamber music, songs, concertos, ballets
One of the best-loved melodists in music history

8. Chaikovsky, Romeo and Juliet
One of several of his symphonic poems
Lengthy pieces in one movement
He uses free forms that adopt features of sonata form, rondo, & so on
Romeo and Juliet followed outlines of the original play in a general way
Easy to link themes to aspects of the play
Surging, Romantic melody for the two lovers
Angry, agitated theme for families’ enmity
Hymnlike theme for kindly Friar Laurence

9. Romeo and Juliet Slow Introduction
Introduction already heavy with drama
Somber, solemn Hymn theme statements
In low clarinets & bassoons
Anguished strings answer
Forecasting an unhappy outcome
High woodwind announcement
Punctuated by strumming harp
The above repeats & builds to a climax
Over dramatic drum roll

10. Romeo and Juliet Allegro (1)
Begins with fast Vendetta (Fate) theme
Short, vigorous rhythmic motives
Climax punctuated by cymbal claps

11. Romeo and Juliet Allegro (2)
Shifts to highly romantic Love theme
First heard in English horn & violas
Interrupted by a gentle sighing figure
Returns to Love theme in woodwinds

12. Romeo and Juliet Allegro (3)
Lively development section follows
Reminiscent of sonata form development
Battle between Vendetta & Hymn themes

13. Romeo and Juliet Free Recapitulation (1)
Vendetta theme returns in original form
Reminiscent of sonata form recapitulation
Sighing motive & Love theme also return
Big, ecstatic statement of Love theme

14. Romeo and Juliet Free Recapitulation (2)
Ending broken up & interrupted – a reference to the drama’s tragic outcome
Vendetta & Hymn themes combine once more
They build to a huge climax & die down unwillingly

15. Romeo and Juliet Coda Introduces transformations of Love theme
Begins with broken version of Love theme
Over funeral drum taps in timpani
Woodwinds sound an optimistic note
Transformation of sighing motive
Harp strumming introduces Love theme
Beautiful new cadential version surges upward ecstatically
Suggestion that their love transcends death?