Giuseppe Verdi
In the era of romanticism of the 19th century, many famous musical works were born. In addition, the great composers of this century are still famous and relevant in the modern world. One of these performances is Giuseppe Verdi, an Italian composer originally from Milan. Throughout his life, he wrote spiritual and instrumental works, including romances. However, the main genre of his work and the greatest works are operas.
Verdi is rightfully included in the textbook, as he is considered a classic of Italian music. The composer directed his work and talent to achieve musical realism in the context of an operatic performance. In addition, in his works, Verdi revealed the versatility of life and its conflicts. However, with all this, in his music, one can feel the strength and harmony of art. The musician wrote many famous works, among which Aida and Traviata. Here is a link to the opera on the YouTube platform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB-YwaOPQeY.
Aida is one of the last operas of the great composer. The work uses such instruments as flutes, oboes, horns, clarinets, bass clarinet, bassoons, trumpets, trombones, bass trombones, and tuba. In addition, timpani, triangle, bass drum, cymbals, tam-tam, harp, strings, and Egyptian pipes can be heard in the music. The opera is performed in the genre of musical drama and reveals the historical context of the war between Egypt and Ethiopia, however, focuses on a fictional story of unrequited love.
This opera is important because it is distinguished by monumental mass scenes, dances, and hymns. The author expresses the conflict of the drama: loving Aida and cruel priests. The work is typical of romanticism due to the drama that is expressed in the melody of the violins. They depict the image of the tender girl Aida, who is doomed to a difficult fate. She is confronted by violent forces, which are reflected in the escalation of the music and the use of the entire orchestra to intensify the situation.
Fryderyk Chopin
Other great composers of the Romantic era include Fryderyk Chopin. He was born in Poland into a simple family of factory workers. However, the main period of his work fell on life after moving to France. The composer worked in different directions and his genre includes ballads, nocturnes, etudes, waltz, mazurka, and much more. The author is critically important for inclusion in the textbook, as he has interpreted many genres in a manner characteristic of his work. Chopin made a separate work from the scherzo and revived the prelude, using a romantic basis for it. Two famous works of the great composer are the Waltz in A Minor, Op.34 No.2 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x90spl8ef1w) and the Garden of Eden.
The work is called Waltz in A minor, Op.34 No.2, and, accordingly, represents the waltz genre, one of the most popular movements in Chopin’s work. The only instrument in the work is the piano, which reveals the subtleties of the feelings invested in music. There is no historical context in this work, and the author’s goal is to convey the emotional part of the human soul. However, it is crucial to mention that during the 19th century, waltzes were quite popular in swell society.
This work is important because it is one of the most interesting of Chopin’s works. His waltz can be described as a lyrical miniature, in which the author reveals to the listeners the experiences and throwing of the human soul. In addition, therefore, it clearly reflects the features of romanticism. It is characterized by elements of dreaminess, with a singing melody, easily sliding in space.
Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer who introduced the genre of classical music and the music of the Romantic era. He was born in the Russian Empire and established himself as a teacher, conductor, and music critic. Tchaikovsky wrote in various genres, including operas, ballets, symphonies, and romances. He is worthy of a textbook mention due to his influence on the musical direction. The author combined in his works philosophical depth and oldness to life. His operas are still staged in many countries and attract many spectators.
Tchaikovsky wrote a great many famous works, among which are Piano Concerto No. 1 and Swan Lake (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP132E-xABg). Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is known all over the world and its genre is ballet. It features a variety of musical instruments including oboes, harps, violins, cellos, and clarinets. The historical context is determined by the desire to recreate a knightly ballad. In addition, the author revealed a motif typical of romanticism – the theme of love, which conquers all obstacles in its path. This work had a huge impact on ballet all over the world. First of all, before Tchaikovsky, writing works in this genre was not a serious art that great composers do. However, he managed to pave the way and make a phenomenon out of this direction, which other musicians would later pay attention to. For the era of romanticism, Tchaikovsky’s work has typical features. In traditional waltzes, the composer reveals pagan motifs and concentrates feelings in adagio, filling them with sensual melodies. In addition, the work combines a storm of feelings and the tragedy of the fate of the characters.