Music of the Romantic Period
1 day 9:30 am - 4:30 pm, or 4 weeks x 90 minutes
“Who can do anything after Beethoven?”
Composers in nineteenth century Europe had a daunting predecessor, but the music they wrote is some of the most beautiful and dramatic of all classical music. Examining the music of the Romantic period in its historical and social context, we look at the works of composers such as Schubert, Schumann, Liszt, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Brahms and Tchaikovsky. No musical knowledge is necessary.
Course Outline
Session 1
- What is wonderful about Romantic music?
- Romance and adventure: origins of the term “Romantic”
- Social and historical background: Europe, 1820-1880
- The art of the Romantic period: we look at art and architecture of the times, and see parallel tastes in art and music
- Musical genres of the Romantic Period: the influence of Beethoven
- Some great names in music: Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Liszt, Brahms and Tchaikovsky
- Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2
- Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1
Session 2
- Compositional techniques: what Romantic composers were trying to achieve, and how they achieved it
- Musical characteristics: what to listen for, and how to get more out of music of the Romantic period
- Programme music: the music of life
- Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
Session 3
- Romantic Opera: Bel Canto, Rossini, Verdi and Wagner
- Bellini: I Puritani
- Rossini: The Barber of Seville
- Verdi: Rigoletto
- Wagner: The Flying Dutchman
- Song in the Romantic period: the beauty and charm of lieder
- Schubert’s Gretchen am Spinnrade
Session 4
- The Piano and the Virtuoso
- Liszt: Les jeux d’eau à la Villa d’Este
- The concerto
- The Symphony and the Symphonic Poem
- Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet
Buy the course notes for this class
In hard copy book form, through Lulu Press$22 + postage
About Susan Deas
Susan Deas is a professional musician, lecturer and teacher. She has been teaching music appreciation courses for more than twenty years, through Sydney University's Centre for Continuing Education, WEA Sydney and at other venues. Her training includes a Bachelor of Music with a major in Performance (Piano) and Musicology, a Master of Music Studies (Studio Pedagogy), a Bachelor of Arts (Communications), and an A.Mus.A in Musicianship. Susan teaches piano and music theory to adults and children, and plays piano and organ at various venues around Sydney. Susan is an Accredited Member of the Music Teachers’ Association of NSW.
More about Susan’s qualifications