THE ROMANTIC PERIOD New additions to the orchestra, instrument advancements, and style.

The Romantic period

The Romantic period New additions to the orchestra, instrument advancements, and styleCharacteristics of romantic musicBig orchestrationEmphasis on nature, nationalism, and the supernaturalHighly expressive and melodicHomophonic Dense texturesProgrammaticNew additions to the orchestraPiccoloEb ClarinetBass ClarinetContrabassoonHarpTuba

Piccolo

Usually played by 3rd flutist or assistant principalUsually doubles 1st violin or 1st flute for a more brilliant sound.

Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, Mvt IVhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXFrjgYRMJIEb CLARINEThttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZoLCcy1xbAAlso referred to as the sopranino clarinetMusic may be written in either Eb or D, making it necessary to transposeUsed frequently by Mahler and Strauss

Strauss: Till Eulenspiegels Merry Pranks

Bass clarinet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFx0kK22874Largest clarinet in the orchestraFirst appearance made in an 1834 opera by Mercadante, Emma d'AntiochiaBerlioz was the first romantic composer to score heavily for bass clarinet

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Bass Clarinet Excerpts)contrabassoon

Usually doubles the bass trombone or tuba partsFound in large symphonic works, namely of Brahms, Mahler, and StraussUnderwent many cosmetic changes between the years of 1880 and 2000.

Brahms: Symphony No. 1, Mvt IV (6:15)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B08YMuB6gGQ

harpMost commonly used in very large orchestrations or in balletsNot a new instrument to the romantic period, but new to the orchestraThe pedal harp must be used in orchestral settings due to frequent key changes

Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Mvt IVhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc7USkQFbQU

tubaLargest instrument in brass familyOnly one tuba in the orchestral brass section

Mussorgsky/Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition, Bydlohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx6Eo6liyCg

Wagner opera instrumentsCreated by Wagner himself for the Ring Cycle operasInfluenced by Adolpe Saxs saxhornHas rotary valvesBruckner and Strauss also wrote for the Wagner TubaPlayed by French Horn section

Bruckner: Symphony No. 7https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFm2C-ve7qwThe Wagner Tuba

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgfqe4XHA78&list=PLFVevkVrD6TF6BUVrMwwNS2Z-ohtflPSwWagner opera instrumentsBass Trumpet

Also played in Wagners Ring CycleDeveloped in the 1820sUsually played by 3rd or bass trombonist

Leitmotifs in Wagners operas:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvA54D2Gz3EWagner opera instrumentsWagner: Siegfriedhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuVpjlYoP3I

Contrabass Trombone

Between bass trombone and tubaPlayed by the bass trombonistConceptualized by Wagner, but was also written for by Strauss, Verdi, Puccini, and Bartok

Other notable instrumentsCimbasso

Used in Italian operas of Verdi, Puccini, and BelliniCross between a low trombone and the tubaIn its typical bent shapePlayed by the orchestras tubist4 valved instrument

Verdi: Overture to Nabuccohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1itS7Et0GBYOther notable instrumentsPercussion Section Explosion!

XylophoneCelesteBellsTriangleVarious Drums

All added during the romantic period

Invention of the valveThe Piston Valve

Earliest type was invented in 1814 by Heinrich StolzelThe piston valve we see today was invented between 1838 and 1839 by Francois PerinetCylindrical casing, allows for different directions of airflow with different valve combinations

Invention of the valveThe Rotary Valve

Its first use was credited to Joseph Riedlin in 1832Almost always found on French Horns, sometimes on tubas and trumpetsAlso in a cylindrical casing, the circular plug must be rotated 90 degrees to allow for air passage, creating different pitches with different valve combination

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ziwwRhqgqkThe saxophone

Invented in 1840 by Adolphe SaxSax wanted to create a single-reed instrument like the clarinet, but with an aesthetic of a bass clarinet, and sounds similar to a French Horn tonePatented the instrument in 1846Seven different instruments in the saxophone family. (4 basic Soprano, alto, tenor, baritone)Used minimally in the orchestral repertoire, but is standard in the military band repertoireThe saxophoneSelected Orchestral Works:

Bizet: LArlesienneCopland: Piano Concerto & Symphony No. 1Gershwin: An American in Paris & Rhapsody in Blue Kodaly: Hary Janos SuiteMilhaud: La Creation du MondeMussorgsky/Ravel: Pictures at an ExhibitionProkofiev: Romeo and JulietRachmaninoff: Symphonic DancesRavel: BoleroVaughan Williams: Symphony Nos. 6 & 9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3KAegnejzwThe Romantic Period1820-1900