Romantic Music
Gioacchino Rossini Born: Pesaro, February 29, 1792
Died: Paris, November 13, 1868
In the Romantic period, music became more expressive and emotional, expanding to encompass literature, art, and philosophy. Famous early Romantic composers include Schumann, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Bellini, and Berlioz. The late 19th century saw a dramatic expansion in the size of the orchestra, and in the role of concerts as part of urban society. Famous composers from the second half of the century include Johann Strauss II, Brahms, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, and Wagner. Between 1890 and 1910, a third wave of composers including Dvořák, Mahler, Richard Strauss, Puccini, and Sibelius built on the work of middle Romantic composers to create even more complex – and often much longer – musical works. A prominent mark of late 19th century music is its nationalistic fervor, as exemplified by such figures as Dvořák, Sibelius, and Grieg. Other prominent late-century figures include Saint-Saëns, Fauré, Rachmaninoff and Franck.
20th century music
The 20th Century saw a revolution in music listening as the radio gained popularity worldwide and new media and technologies were developed to record, reproduce and distribute music. Because music was no longer limited to concerts and clubs, it became possible for music artists to quickly gain fame nationwide and sometimes worldwide. Conversely, audiences were able to be exposed to a wider range of music than ever before. Music performances became increasingly visual with the broadcast and recording of music videos and concerts. Music of all kinds also became increasingly portable. Headphones allowed people sitting next to each other to listen to entirely different performances or share the same performance.
20th Century music brought a new freedom and wide experimentation with new musical styles and forms that challenged the accepted rules of music of earlier periods. The invention of musical amplification and electronic instruments, especially the synthesizer, in the mid-20th century revolutionized popular music and accelerated the development of new forms of music.
Vocabulary
encompass - îõîïëþâàòè
prominent – âèäàòíèé
fervor – çàïàë, ãàðÿ÷í³ñòü
exemplified – èëþñòðóâàòè, íàâîäèòè â ïðèêëàä
ñonversely – íàâïàêè
challenge – îñêàðæóâàòè, êèäàòè âèêëèê
Task 2. Choose the correct answer
1. Famous early Romantic composers include
a. Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi b. Johann Stamitz, Franz Richter, Carl Stamitz, and Christian Cannabich c. Schumann, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Bellini, and Berlioz d. Guillaume de Machaut and Francesco Landini
2. New media and technologies were developed to
a. write music b. to popularize music c. play music d. to prohibit music
3. What allowed people sitting next to each other to listen to entirely different performances
a. headphones b. radio c. concerts c. mass media
4. The invention of musical amplification and electronic instruments … popular music.
a. accelerated b. slowed down c. pushed slightly d. revolutionized
Task 3. Put the questions to the underlined words:
a. The 20th Century saw a revolution in music listeningas the radio gained popularity worldwide and new media and technologies were developed to record, capture, reproduce and distribute music.
b. The invention of musical amplification and electronic instruments, especially the synthesizer, in the mid-20th centuryrevolutionized popular music and accelerated the development of new forms of music.
Task 4. Answer the following questions:
1. Which composers were famous in the early Romantic period?
2. Which composers were popular in the second half of the 19-th century?
3. What were new media and technologies developed for?
4. Why did it become possible for music artists to quickly gain fame nationwide and sometimes worldwide?
5. What device revolutionized popular music and accelerated the development of new forms of music?
Task 5. Retell the text.