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MUSICAL CONTEXT
Increased Interest in Nature
and the Supernatural
Romantic artists saw nature in a less idealized way than
the artists of the Classical period had.
The natural world was considered less a model of
perfection and more a source of mysterious powers.
Romantic composers gravitated toward supernatural texts
and stories. Schubert's Erlking and Berlioz' Symphonie
fantastique are two good examples.
The Rise of Program Music
Music began to be used to tell stories, or to imply
meaning beyond the purely musical.
Composers found ways to make their musical ideas
represent people, things, and dramatic situations as
well as emotional states and even philosophical ideas.
Nationalism and Exoticism
Composers used music as a tool for highlighting national
identity.
Instrumental composers such as Bedrich Smetana made
reference to folk music and national images (as in The
Moldau), while operatic composers such as Giuseppe Verdi
set stories with strong patriotic undercurrents.
Composers took an interest in the music of various
ethnic groups and incorporated it into their own music.
Composers also wrote works based on stories of exotic
lands and people.
Changing Status of Musicians
A composer was no longer dependent for income on the
steady employment by nobility but relied instead on the
support of the public and the patronage of individuals.
Music was seen less as an occupation and more as a
calling. Specialized training institutions (conservatories)
replaced the apprentice system of the church and the
court.
Women found more opportunities for musical expression,
especially as performers, but social and cultural
barriers still limited their participation as composers.
HISTORICAL THEMES
The increasing role of science
in defining a worldview
The skepticism resulting from by a clearer understanding
of the world and humanity's place in it changed the way
people thought of themselves and society. Charles
Darwin's (1809-1882) The Origin of the Species is one
example of the new attitude.
The rise of European
nationalism
Many areas of Europe (especially Italy and Central
Europe) struggled to free themselves from foreign
control. The years around 1850 saw many revolutions and
attempts at revolutions. At the same time, Germany --
never a fully unified country -- struggled to create a
separate national identity.
A growing autonomy for the arts
More and more, art was removed from functional roles and
came to be appreciated for its aesthetic worth. The art
of the past became increasingly revered, and our modern
notions of the "artist" and of the "fine arts" were born. |
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