Romantic Music History Timeline (1770-1911)

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    Ludwig Van Beethoven

    Beethoven was a German born composer who played an important role in the musical transition between the classical and romantic periods. He was a virtuoso pianist, and studied compostition in Vienna with Joseph Haydn.
    1819- Diabelli Variations (THeme taken from a composition competition)
    1823- Missa Solemnis (Dedicated to Archduke Rudolf's apointment as Archbishop)
    1824- Symphony No. 9
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    Louis Spohr

    German composer. Use of the leit motif.
    1813- Faust (opera based on Goethe's novel)
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    C.M. Von Weber

    German. "Self contained work of art" =Gesamtkustwerk.
    1821- Die Freischutz (opera)
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    Giacomo Meyerbeer

    Jewish-German composer who studied in France. Wrote French opera.
    1836- "Les Huguenots" (opera)
    1831- "Robert-le-Diable" (opera)
    1849- Le Prophete (opera)
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    Franz Schubert

    Schubert was a German born composer who, like Beethoven, bridged the gap between the classical and romantic periods. Very well known for his German Lied music and what we now would call the "Art Song".
    1823- "Die Schone Mullerin" (song cycle)
    1815 - Der Erlkonig (German Lied)
    1822- Symphony No. 8
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    Hector Berlioz

    A french born composer, Hector Berlioz studied both Beethoven and french opera.
    1830- Symphony Fantastique (program symphony)
    1846- Damnation of Faust
    1837- Grande Messe des morts, Op. 5 (or Requiem)
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    Felix Mendelssohn

    Jewish born German composer. Composed program music and concert overtures.
    1826- A Midsummer Night's Dream (Concert Overture)
    Symphony No. 3 (Scottish)
    Symphony No. 4 (Italian)
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    Fredric Chopin

    A poilish born composer, Chopin was a child prodigy and composed many great works for piano. Studieed in Warsaw until moving to France for the remainder of his career. First to write ballades and scherzi individually.
    1841- Nocturne No. 13 (one of 21 pieces for solo piano)
    1831- Revolutionary Etude Op. 10 No. 12
    1847- Minute Waltz Op. 64 No. 1
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    Robert Schumann

    A German born composer, married dear Clara Schumann who was a much better musician.
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    Franz Liszt

    Hungarian born Romantic composer. Very advanced virtuoso pianist who was said to have been one of the most technically advanced pianists of his time.
    1847- Hungarian Rhapsody No. 9 ("Carnival in Pest")
    1842- Annees de Pelerinage ("Years of Pilgrimage" )
    1856- "Les Preludes" (Tone poem/Symphonic Poem)
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    Richard Wagner

    German born composer. Best known for his grand operas. Wrote the libretti, score, and staged all his operas. Use of the leitmotif. Gesamtkunstwerk.
    1859- Trisstan und Isolde
    Composed from 1848 to 1874- Der Ring Des Nibelungen
    Das Rheingold (The Rhine Gold)
    Die Walküre (The Valkyrie)
    Siegfried
    Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods)
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    Johannes Brahms

    German composer and pianist.
    1862- Variations on theme by Haydn (8 variations)
    1868- A German Requiem, To Words of the Holy Scriptures, Op. 45 (non-liturgical)
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    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Russian born composer. Embraced the western structure and style of music more-so than his russian contemporaries. All his operas have Russian Themes.
    1872- Symphony No. 2 (Little Russian) (THeme and Variation)
    1871- String Quartet No. 1
    1888- Symphony No. 5 (dark and brooding)
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    Gilbert and Sullivan

    A duo of lyricist (Gilbert) and composer (Sullivan) who composed many comedic operettas in England.
    1885- The Mikado
    1879- Pirates of Penzance
    1878- H.M.S Pinafore
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    Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    Member of "The Five", a group of Russian composers of the Romantic Period. Very involved in creating a truely "Russian" sound.
    1887- Russian Easter Festival Overture: Overture on Liturgical Themes, Op. 36
    1887- Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34
    1888- Sheherezade, Op. 35 (symphonic suite)
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    Gustav Mahler

    Austrian born composer. Was Jewish. Used folk songs in his compositional works. 3 compositional periods, the forst of which was during the romantic period. Symphonies 1-4.