Romanticism in Terms of Art and Social Change as Well as Music Works of Johannes Brahms - Literature review Example

Romanticism in terms of art and social change as well as music Works of Johannes Brahms Lecturers name Student Name Student number Unit of study Code and Unit of study name Assignment Number/Name. Introduction Romanticism is a period of style and movement in terms of music, paintings, architecture, literature, as well as other forms or arts that started in the 1770 and flourished into 1920s. It was a period when modern mass culture that the current era is taking form emerged. The period also increased social and geographic mobility, which saw emergence of new technologies integrated in music and witnessed the idealisation of love and nature in works of art.1 During the Romantic Period, the humans experienced increased unpleasantness. Such unpleasantness of life encouraged the use of art as means of escapism2. For instance, music became a medium through which the greatest composers of the period, such as Johannes Brahms expressed the social suffering and uncertainties. Based on this perspective, this essay argues that art, social change, and music of the Romantic Period reflected the relationship of man with nature, as well as man’s capacity to exalt or articulate concern for the natural order of things. In this regard, this paper explores romanticism in terms of art and social change, as well as music, and the works of Johannes Brahms. Romanticism in terms of art and social change as well as music Art and social change The Romantic Period is estimated to have started in the 1750s immediately after the death of Johann Sebastian Bach. Still, historians or art and music have agreed that the period was around the time that artists and musical composers started to turn from the Baroque style to Classical style. In spite of this, the separation between Romantic and Classical eras is definite. Daverio3 describes it as when artists and musicians started to espouse the ideas of "egalité, liberté, fraternité" (equality, liverty and brotherliness). This happened during the French Revolution. Before then, performance and composition of music was strictly the domain of the aristocrats before the modes and themes of performance gradually changed to be accessible to the middle class4. Romantic Period marked a shift in values. Painters, such as Caspar David Friedrich in Germany started to focus on recapturing the essence of high romance that linked man and nature. Figure 1: Friedrich’s romantic painting of men looking at the moon5 In the paintings and sculptures, the essence of demonic, mysticism and supernatural started to materialise as a component of human experience. In terms of social change, the Western world experience significant changes. In fact, historical events like the American Revolution of 1776, in addition to the Proclamation of Independence and later the French Revolution of 1789 marked the Romantic Period. Additionally, events such as the Napoleonic Wars (1790-1815) generated chaos and widespread poverty, and a likely extermination of the ruling class (Figure 2). Figure 2: Jacques-Louis David’s Romantic painting done in 1800 and showing Napoleon Crossing the Alps6 The revolutions, such as the French Revolution led to emergence of cities, such as Paris, leading to the migration of people from the countryside to the cities. The rise of power based on wealth is an additional events linked to the fundamental and permanent revolutions in place in societies7. More fundamentally, the social and political oppressions that marked the persistent revolutions gradually became the subject of protests and emotional expressions through art. Indeed, poetry, paintings, sculptures and music that was typical of the period indicated a society that struggled through change and pursued escapism in nature8. Figure 3: Painting of The Lady of Shalott (1888) showing man’s pursuit of serenity in nature9 Politics and religion were also significant components of this change. For instance, Catholicism went through revival as a faith of the Romantic Period. Church music shifted from using the ornamental Rococo to the use of plainsong and the sounds of polyphony. Romanticism in Music During this period, artists and composers disproved the objective, rational thought and instead espoused instincts and emotions. They began to consider music to be a conduit for conveying intense feelings rather than just as something intended for pleasing the ears. While the modern day conceptions of “romantic” are linked to love, the Romantic musical compositions went beyond expression of love to integrate also expressions of hate and anger. For instance, during the German literary movement called Sturm und Drang (" also known as storm and stress"), Romantic composers promoted these themes as man's discomfort in modern society and the readiness to "return to nature." Indeed, exploration of the romantic composers and pieces of their works reveals themes, such as seasons and nature, death and life, joy and love and folk music and national folklore10. These characterised the Czech, Italians, French, and German themes during the period. Indeed, a great feel of how music transformed from the Classical to the Romantic Period is evident in Ludwig Beethoven's symphonies. Daverio11 stresses that Beethoven is among the best examples of composers who made significant contributions to music during the two periods. In fact, by the time he composed Symphony No. 6 in 1808, the change to Romantic Period had already happened. During the Romantic Period, the size of orchestra had expanded since additional seats had been integrated to the existent sections. Additionally, composers started to compose music for up to three woodwind instruments since more instruments has been introduced to the orchestra. Examples include bass clarinet, piccolo, tuba, English horn, saxophone and double bassoon12. Piano also experienced more innovations, in terms of its composition, to further shape the music of the ear. Pianos of the Romantic were capable of creating increasingly powerful, yet sustained sound. This promoted more dramatic expression of music. Indeed, Raiche 13points out that composers were able to write music that needed greater tension and use force on the instrument. Such transformations were not possible during the Classical period as instruments during Classical period were more flimsy. Indeed, composers during this period, such as Franz Liszt are regarded as the father of contemporary piano recital14. Additional notable piano composers during the Romantic Period include Chopin, Schumann, Brahms and Schubert. The four created sonata and shorter pieces, such as polonaise, mazurka, rhapsody, waltz, and nocturne15. During the period, music became increasingly democratic compared to the classical period. It shifted from being performed in palace salons for the aristocrats to the public halls for concerts and to the homes of the middle class. In fact, as the number of people in the middle class increased, the commoners started to buy own pianos. Additionally, musicians started selling their musical compositions in the open market to the public. This allowed the commoners start playing on their own instruments at home. During this period, some composers, such as Nicolo Paganini attained great success by relying on the wealthy patrons for payment. He composed and practiced violin music pieces of great intricacy that he influenced Franz Liszt, who later also made a great success. The musical forms that marked the period include a symphonic poem, which refers to a non-lyrical composition that narrates a tale. Unlike the Classical Period where order and form or art was given priority, the Romantic Period gave priority to the expressiveness of the content. For instance, a piece of music in the Classical era had a structure that was considered aurally. Indeed, it is the aural aspect of the music, which was central to the musical experience. On the contrary, music during the Romantic era focused on the influential expressive emotions16. Hence, the emotion significance was given greater importance. From this, it could be reasoned that the Classical era was the age of reason where order and serenity were given greater value. Indeed, the qualities like ‘reason’ and ‘wisdom’ were based on the ancient Roman and Greek cultures, which were vital for a valued life17. Works of Johannes Brahms Born in 1833 in Hamburg, Germany, Johannes Brahms was a composer during the Romantic Period. He owed much of his success to his father, who was a double bass player, and who gave him basic music training. Brahms is said to have been significantly inspired by composers of the Classical Period, such as Haydn and Mozart18. He also liked Beethoven. Due to this, his music was essentially traditional yet ordered in form. Indeed, some historians have described his music as being ‘absolute music,’ a term denoting lack of motivation outside of music, such as from paintings. It is this aspect of Brahm’s works, which inspired criticism from his contemporaries, who viewed his music as being music just for the sake of music19. Figure 4: Brahms during his youth20 During the peak of Romantic Period, a huge rivalry emanated between Brahms, who was greatly accused of representing the traditional compositions, and a new school of German composers such as Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, and Felix Mendelssohn, who favoured the idea of advancement, using up-to-date technologies. The rivalry led to what became famous as the “War of Romantics.”21 While Brahms perceived the pieces of music composed by Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, and Felix Mendelssohn as unnecessary and lavish, the three saw Brahms’s music as being old-fashioned. Still, Brahms admired several of their music despite the fact that he disliked the manner in which the three bent the rules22. Still, modern day scholars, such as Platt23 have acknowledged that Brahms’s work were great masterpieces due to the complexities of the orchestras he used. Brahms debuted his first symphony during his early 20 in 1876, which gained recognition as Beethoven 10th. He finished his second symphony in 1877, his violin concerto in 1879. He finished his second piano in 1881. His repetitive compositions earned him a reputation as the greatest composers of the Romantic Period24. Subsequent years saw the composition of third symphony in 1883 and the fourth two years later. The two subsequent compositions gave his pieces of music a touch of ‘autumnal beauty.” Indeed, historians such as Platt25 have described Brahms as the most prolific and successful composers of the Romantic era, who made a mark reconciling the disagreeing claims of classical form and lyricism. Figure 5: Brahms at an older age26 Brahms’s epic piano concerto called the Piano Concerto No. 1 was among his most acclaimed works. He integrated orchestra and piano as equals, which was largely criticised. However, his biggest work a German Requiem dubbed Op. 45 has been regarded as his biggest piece of music. It has massively outstanding choral piece with texts derived from the Bible. The complexity yet beauty of the piece made Brahms popular across Europe27. Next, “Wiegenlied, Op. 49 No. 4”, which was largely renowned as “Brahms Lullaby” also became popular throughout the world. He composed it with the view of creating soothing melodies for children. Next, Brahms Symphony 1, Op. 68 also became popular through the Romantic Period due to its similarity to Beethoven’s works. In fact, it came to be popularly known as “Beethoven’s Tenth.” It enabled Brahms to be acknowledged for his mastery in symphony28. The “Hungarian Dances” is another popular piece of music that Brahms composed. It is filled with lively gypsy imagery, as it was immensely popular gypsy dances29. Conclusion Art, social change, and music of the Romantic Period reflected the relationship of man with nature as well as man’s capacity to exalt or articulate concern for the natural order of things. During the period, artists and musicians such as Brahms started to espouse the ideas of equality, liberty, and brotherliness on the content of their works. Indeed, the Romantic Period marked a shift in values as composers started to focus on recapturing the essence of high romance linked to the middle ages. Music became increasingly democratic compared to the classical period. It shifted from being performed in palace salons for the aristocrats to the public halls for concerts and to the homes of the middle class. Unlike the Classical Period where order and form or art was given priority, composers in the Romantic Period such as Brahms largely placed emphasis on the expressiveness of the content. For instance, a piece of music in the Classical era had a structure that was considered aurally. In the Romantic Period, it is the aural aspect of Brahms’s pieces of music, which was central to the musical experience. Bibliography Daverio, J 2002, Crossing Paths : Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms: Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp.48 FavoriteClassicalComposers 2014, Johannes Brahms Biography Traditional Music, Romantic Passion, viewed 24 Jan 2015, Horne, W 2006, "The Variations of Johannes Brahms," Music and Letters vol 76 no 2, pp.334-337 Platt, H 2012, Johannes Brahms, Routledge, New York, pp.49 Raiche, J 2013, Romantic Exoticism: The Music of Elsewhere in the Nineteenth Century, viewed 24 Jan 2014, pp.5-8 Rule, M 2011, The Allure Of Beethoven’s “Terzen-Ketten”: Third-Chains In Studies By Nottebohm and Music by Brahms, Dissertation Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements or the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2011 SalemPress n.d., Johannes Brahms: German Composer, viewed 24 Jan 2015, pp.296-297 University of Houston Clear Lake (UHCL) 2014, Romanticism (late 1700s-1800s), viewed 24 Jan 2014, Visual-arts-cork.com 2014, Romantic Art Style (c.1770-1920), viewed 24 Jan 2014, Read More