The Great Musical Adventure part 6

The Romantic period. What an amazing and mysterious time for composers to explore new territory. The Romantic period was about the contemplation of one’s self. In this period the composers and scientists studied, overserved, and contemplated the human body and self. With this goal in mind, the composers of this time went all out to try new composition concepts and play with harmonies to ensnare the senses of man. This actual period was between 1820 to 1900, only 80 short but incredible years.

Although Beethoven was technically in the Classical period, he coined the ideas of romantic music. Some of the composers of this period are Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Verdi, Paganini, Rossini, Puccini, Liszt, Brahms, Johann Strauss II, and many, many more. These few composers mentioned above ensnared the human senses with their new harmonies and compositions. It was an entirely innovative experience for the public. With these composers at hand, you may be wondering which ones I will elaborate on.

For me, I love most of the composers from the romantic period. All their compositions have me gripping to the end. When I want to hear a fabulous ballet, Tchaikovsky is my go-to man. If I want to here an opera, Verdi is my number one chioce of the opera composers. However, Rossini, Puccini, and Wagner wrote some pretty great operas too. Looking for fiery violin playing, Paganini is your man. Looking to hear beautiful piano playing, there is no one better than Liszt. Do you have a desire to get up and waltz, Johann Strauss II is there with all your favorite waltzes and dances.

Imagine a prince throwing a party that has feasting, drinking, and dancing. All his friends come to celebrate his birthday. One requirement he has during his party is that he must marry one of a fine lady soon. His mother wishes him to marry one of the ladies at the party, but Prince Siegfried has other ideas. After his party, he goes hunting with some of his buddies. There he meets a beautiful swan which transforms into a princess. He falls in love with her, but an evil sorcerer comes and destroys their love by turning her back into a swan. He then bewitches the mind of the prince by presenting him to another swan princess. The prince does not know that this is just another beautiful swan princess and not the one he first fell in love with. He says he will marry this princess, but then discovers that this is not his beloved Odette, but the sorcerer's daughter Oldie. He finds Odette and they both die along with the sorcerer and his daughter. This is Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake Ballet. The music takes you through the feelings of the sorcerer, Odette, Oldie, the Prince, and the party. This ballet is highly emotional and exquisitely beautiful.

The wonderful waltz time plays on your radio. Starting somewhat slow, but you can't help but swing to the music. You feel the ups and downs of the pulse of the music. Then, the music picks up and then, the themes and variations of the waltz begin to unfold. The themes in the waltz excite you and you continue to dance with yourself. Then, the original theme picks back up. The brass come in to play their part and variation in this waltz. As the music makes a final run for it as the end approaches, and then dies away. This is Johann Strauss II, Vienna Bon-Bons. You can almost feel the enthusiasm of the dancers in this waltz.

Before I end, let me touch on the greatest violinist and pianist of all time, Niccolo Paganini and Franz Liszt. While Liszt lived to a remarkably handsome age of 75, Paganini only lived to 58. Both were masters of their instrument. However, Paganini was the first to experiment with the violin and try extraordinarily hard and technically difficult concepts. Liszt admired Paganini's technically difficult passages on the violin and decided to create the same on the piano. I will link a couple of their amazing pieces below.

Well, what could be after the Romantic period of music? The next installment will have both the impressionist musicians and 20th-century music combined. Lord willing, I will have that installment next Tuesday.

Paganini Caprice No. 24

Liszt Hungarian Dance No. 2

Cheers,

Chloe Elizabeth