This document provides information about Romantic period music. It begins by outlining the learning competencies and objectives related to describing musical elements, performance practices, and relating Romantic music to history and other art forms. It then defines the Romantic period as one that stressed emotion, imagination, individualism and freedom of expression. Key aspects of Romantic instrumental music are described such as piano music, program music using tone poems and symphonies to tell stories. Famous composers of the period are outlined for violin (Paganini), piano (Chopin, Liszt, Schumann), and program music (Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saens). Sample works of each composer are listed. The document concludes

1. ROMANTIC
MUSIC
Prepared by:
Gwyneth Jenzie

2. Learning Competencies
• Describes musical elements of given Romantic Period pieces.
(MU9RO-IIIa-2)
• Explains the performance practice (setting, composition, role of
composers/performers, and audience) during Romantic Period.
(MU9RO-IIIb-h-3)
• Relate Romantic music to other art forms and its history within the era.
(MU9RO-IIIc-h-7)

3. Objectives
At the end of this Guided Learning Activity sheet, you are expected to:
• Narrate the life and works of Romantic composers.
• Relate Romantic period music to its historical and cultural
background.
• Explain the performance practice during the Romantic period.
• Describe musical elements of given Romantic period pieces.

4. Romantic period is described as a
cultural movement that stressed
emotion, imagination, individualism
and freedom of expression. The
compositions in this period are more
passionate and expressive.

5. The Romantic Instrumental Music is
Piano music which is a free form such
as fantasy, rhapsody, ballad and
nocturne, and Program music which
was expressed in tone poems and
Symphony Fantastique.
The music was used to tell stories
and express ideas. Most of the
composers were proud of their
country’s music and often use folk
songs in their works.

6. Who is the famous composer of violin and stringed music?
Niccolo Paganini is the famous
composer of violin and strings music.
He was born in October 27, 1782 in
Genoa, Italy. At the age of 5, he started
playing mandolin and transferred his
training to the violin at the age of 7.
Paganini became the most famous
violin virtuoso in the world.

7. Who is the famous composer of violin and stringed music?
Some Works of Niccolo Paganini:
• “La Campanella”
• 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op. 1
• Concerto No. 1 in Eb , Op. 6
• 15 Quartets for Guitar and Strings Trio
• The Carnival of Venice

8. THESE ARE THE FAMOUS COMPOSERS OF PIANO MUSIC
FREDERIC CHOPIN – He was born on March
1, 1810 in Zelazowa, Poland. Chopin was
known as the “Poet of the Piano” and
considered as world renowned pianist and
composer. At the age of 4 he began playing
piano and at the age of 7 he composed
Polonaise.

9. THESE ARE THE FAMOUS COMPOSERS OF PIANO MUSIC
Piano works of Frederic Chopin
BALLADE - A verse form usually consisting of three stanzas
of eight or ten lines each along with a brief envoy, with all
three stanzas and the envoy ending in the same one-line
refrain.
ETUDE – A piece composed for the development of a
specific point of technique.
MAZURKA - A Polish dance resembling the polka, frequently
adopted as a ballet form usually in triple time signature.

10. THESE ARE THE FAMOUS COMPOSERS OF PIANO MUSIC
Piano works of Frederic Chopin
• NOCTURNE - An instrumental composition of a
pensive, dreamy mood, especially one for the
piano
• POLONAISE - A stately, march like Polish dance,
primarily a promenade by couples.
• PRELUDE - An introductory performance, event, or
action preceding a more important one.
• WALTZ - A piece of music for this dance.

11. THESE ARE THE FAMOUS COMPOSERS OF PIANO MUSIC
Piano works of Frederic Chopin
• IMPROMTU - A short composition, especially for
the piano, performed in an offhand or
extemporized style.
• SCHERZO - a musical movement of playful
character, typically in aba form.
• SONATA - composition for one or more solo
instruments, one of which is usually a keyboard
instrument, usually consisting of three or four
independent movements varying in key, mood, and
tempo.

12. FRANZ LISZT – He was born on
October 22, 1811 in the village of
Doborjan. He was known as the
virtuoso pianist and composer and the
busiest musicians during the romantic
era. His piano compositions include
works such as piano Sonata in B
minor, and two piano concertos.

13. Some of Liszt’s Piano works:
• La Campanella
• Liebestraume No. 3
• Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsodies" were originally written
for solo piano, but many were arranged for orchestra or
other combinations of instruments. The Hungarian
Rhapsody No.2 is the most popular and was the basis
for the Tom & Jerry cartoon called the Cat Concerto.
• Un Sospiro
• Sonata in B Minor
• Arrangements of the 9 Beethoven Symphonies
• Transcriptions of Lieder by Schubert
Orchestral Composition
• Symphonic Poems (Hamlet, Les Preludes)

14. ROBERT SCHUMANN – He was born in
1810 in Zwickau. He was a composer
and music critic. In 1830, Schumann
went to live in Leipzig and soon
developed a problem with his hands,
effectively ending his dreams as a
pianist.

15. Piano Works :
• "Abegg Variations," Opus 1(1830)
• "Davidsbundlertanze" ("Dances of the Band of
David"), Opus 6 (1837)
• "Carnaval," Opus 9 (1835) - a portrait of a
masked ball attended by his allies and his
beloved Clara
• "Phantasiestucke," Opus 12 (1837) - a series of
mood pieces Kreisleriana," Opus 16 (1838) - a
fantasy on the mad Kapellmeister
• "Kinderszenen," Opus 15 (1838) - a poetic
series of evocations of a child's world

16. THESE ARE THE COMPOSERS OF PROGRAM MUSIC
HECTOR BERLIOZ – He is a French
romantic composer born on December 11,
1803. One of his famous musical
compositions is a five movement
symphony called “Symphonie Fantastique”.
In this composition which is also known as
“Fantastic Symphony”, Berlioz showcased
the important features in his composition
in creating tone color.

17. THESE ARE THE COMPOSERS OF PROGRAM MUSIC
PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY – He
was born on May 7, 1840 in Votkinsk,
Russia and known for his ballet
music. His fame peaked in the last
ten years of his life and later died due
to cholera.

18. THESE ARE THE COMPOSERS OF PROGRAM MUSIC
Tchaikovsky’s Famous Compositions:
• Swan Lake
• Sleeping Beauty
• The Nutcracker
• Romeo & Juliet
• 1812 Overture
• Symphony No. 2
• Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique”
• Piano Concerto No. 1

19. THESE ARE THE COMPOSERS OF PROGRAM MUSIC
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS - He was
born in Paris on October 9, 1835. He
was considered as a composer who
creates elegant music, neat, clean,
polished and never excessive.

20. THESE ARE THE COMPOSERS OF PROGRAM MUSIC
Best known music of Camille Saint-
Saëns:
• Carnival of the Animals
• Danse Macabre and his
SymphonyNo. 3
• The Swan

21. Do you have any questions
and clarifications?

22. Let's Try!
Directions: Read the questions carefully. Choose the letter of the correct
answer then write it on a piece of paper.

23. Let's Try!
Directions: Read the questions carefully. Choose the letter of the correct
answer then write it on a piece of paper.

24. Let us Reflect!
Directions: Answer the question. (Provide at least three to five sentences.)
• If you have given a chance to compose your own Romantic
composition, what would be the emotion that you want to express
to your listeners? Why?
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