Question

The term “Romantic” has a different meaning from the usual understanding of it Listen to the fourth movement of Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique and Edvard Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King.*  

What is Romantic (with a capital R) about these two pieces?

How does the composers’ use of the (Romantic) orchestra support the meaning of the music?

Answer 1

Answer.

The word romanticism was first used to describe new ideas in painting and literature at the end of the 18th century. Within music, it was adopted as a reaction to Classical music and was aimed for a store powerful expression of emotion, often revealing the innermost thoughts and feelings of the composers. Romantic music such as the moves beyond the emotion of love, and it also thematises hate, fantasy such as the Troll king in Grieg’s ‘Hall of the Mountain King’uor death (positive or negative feelings).

As Romantic composers widened the range of their musical material,, they transformed the nature of the orchestra as well. One can find richer harmonies, more passionate melodies, and greater use of chromaticism (where sound modulation is used to depict a specific colour in its varying intenisties ). the size of the orchestra increased manifold. The tuba was added to the brass section, valves were invented, which gave the brass more flexibility. Composers wrote for woodwind instruments in threes of even fours. The romantic music saw the introduction of piccolo, cor anglais, bass clarinet and double bassoon.

A larger string section was formed in order to accommodate the extra sound. More varied percussion such as bongos were added. Thus, the aromatic music ushered in a rich variety of compositions, ranging from piano pieces and songs to large spectacular works.