The big ones Composers of romanticism Were developed during the musical period in the West between the end of the eighteenth century and the first part of the nineteenth century. This musical movement had relation with the literary and artistic current of the same name that arose in Europe during the second half of century XVIII, mainly in Germany.
During this period, music became more expressive and emotional, becoming an accompaniment to contemporary literary, artistic and philosophical themes. The magnitude of the orchestration grew considerably during romanticism, as well as the dynamic range and diversity of instruments used in it.
Public concerts became a key part of middle-class urban society, in contrast to earlier historical moments where concerts were mainly paid for and executed for the aristocracy.
Among the characteristics of romanticism can be mentioned a new surrender to the natural, a fascination with the past (particularly with medieval legends), a new look at the mystical and supernatural, a nostalgia for the infinite and a focus on the fantastic, spiritual And ghostly.
Nationalism was also a motive among the composers and musicians of Romanticism. The manifestation of intense feelings in the compositions was the focus of most of the arts that developed during this historical period.
The programmatic symphony, the symphonic poem, the dramatic music, the opera Bel Canto and the overture of concert are genres that were conceived and popularized during romanticism as alternative forms of classical sonatas and symphonies.
Below is a ranking of the main musicians and composers of Romanticism.
1- Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
He was a German pianist and composer, a crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in western music. He continues to be one of the most influential and famous composers of all time.
Among his works are 9 symphonies, 5 concerts for piano, a concert for violin, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, his great Missa Solemnis And the opera Fidelio. He also composed chamber music, choral works and songs.
After his 25 years his hearing began to deteriorate and spent the last decade of his life almost totally deaf. In 1811 left the direction of orchestra and stopped to interpret the piano in public, but continued composing. Many of his most admired works were composed during this stage.
2- Franz Schubert (1810-1949)
Austrian musician, he died before turning 32, nevertheless had a very prolific career as a composer. He composed more than 600 secular vocal works, seven complete symphonies, sacred music, opera, incidental music and a great deal of chamber music and piano.
While living, his music was appreciated only by a small group of fans in Vienna. The true interest in his work began after his death, being promoted and praised by other composers of the time like Mendelssohn, Schumann and Liszt.
3- Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-1847)
This German composer and pianist, sister of Felix Mendhelsson, composed more than 460 works. Between its compositions they emphasize a trio for piano and several books of only for piano and songs. Many of his works were published under the name of his brother, within his Opus eighth and ninth.
4- Louis-Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
French composer, best known for His Symphonie fantastique and his Great messes des morts (Requiem). His contributions to the conformation of the modern orchestra were significant, thanks to his Treatise on Instrumentation. He even used up to 1,000 musicians at several concerts he directed.
5- Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Composer, pianist, organist and conductor of German, pertaining to the early romanticism. Grandchild of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, he was born into a prominent Jewish family. It enjoyed great success in Germany, where it revived the interest for the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. He wrote symphonies, concerts and various oratorios.
6- Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin (1810-1849)
Born in Poland, this virtuoso pianist and composer basically wrote works for piano, although his works also include some chamber pieces. His style to the keyboard is highly individual and in many pieces, very technically demanding. She was one of the first"superstars"of romantic music.
7- Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
German composer and influential musical critic. He dropped out of law school to pursue a career as a pianist. After a hand injury, he focused his efforts on composition. His compositions focused mainly on the piano. He suffered from a mental disorder that caused him serious depression, which ended up prostrating him in a psychiatric hospital.
8- Franz Joseph Liszt (1811-1886)
Prolific Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, orchestra conductor, music teacher, arranger, organist, philanthropist and writer. His prodigious piano skill was legendary. Fungió as promoter and friend of many musicians and authors of his era, such as Chopin, Wagner, Berlioz, Schumann and Grieg.
As a composer, he was one of the most prominent representatives of the New German School. He left behind an extensive portfolio of works. One of his most important contributions was the creation of the symphonic poem as a genre.
9- Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
This German composer, theater director and orchestra conductor is best known for his operas. Like many composers of the genre, Wagner composed both the libretto and the music of his works.
His opera The Ring of the Nibelungs consisted of four parts. His music has been used frequently in films, as is the case of the Apocalypse Now (Coppola), Excalibur (Boorman) and Melancolia (von Trier).
10- Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Italian opera composer. He participated in Italian unification movements. His political vision was present in many of his works, as is the case of his opera Nabucco .
It reached the pinnacle of its success with the opera Aida and, nevertheless, continued surprising with masterpieces like Requiem , Otello Y Falstaff . His works maintain a great popularity, especially those of his"average"period, like Rigoletto , Il Trovatore Y The traviata .
11- Clara Wieck Schumann (1819-1896)
German interpreter and composer, considered one of the most outstanding pianists of the era of the romanticism. He maintained a constant influence during his 61 years of race. Her husband was the composer Robert Schumann. Together, the Schumann impelled Johannes Brahms, Clara interpreting some of his first compositions.
12- Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884)
Czech composer, pioneer of the development of a musical style that was identified very closely to the aspirations of his country. He is therefore considered the father of Czech music. His born talent for composition made him publish his first work at the age of 6 years. One of his most famous works is opera The bride sold .
13- Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Born in Hamburg, this German composer and pianist spent most of his professional career in Vienna. His reputation and status as a composer is such that he is sometimes grouped together with Bach and Beethoven as one of the"3 Bs"of romantic music.
He composed for symphony orchestra, groups of chamber, piano, organ, voice and choir. Many of his works are already standards of the repertoire of concerts. Perfectionist, it is said that he destroyed many of his works and left several more unpublished.
14- Georges Bizet (1838-1875)
French composer, best known for his operas in a career that was truncated early by his death. It achieved several successes before its final work, Carmen, that has become one of the most popular and frequently interpreted within the complete operatic repertoire.
15- Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Russian composer, belonging to the late Romantic movement. Several of his works are among the most popular pieces of the repertoire of classical music. He was the first Russian composer whose work stood out internationally, which led him to appear as guest conductor in Europe and even the United States.
Despite musical success, Tchaikovsky's life was plagued by personal crisis and depression. His homosexuality, which he had to keep secret during his life, was a contributing factor to his deteriorated emotional state.
16- Antonin Dvorák (1841-1904)
After Smetana, Dvorák was the second Czech composer to gain international notoriety. Following the path of the pioneer Smetana, he developed his work frequently using aspects of folk music from Moravia and his native Bohemia.
He was an outstanding violinist from his childhood. He wrote nine operas, mostly under a Czech nationalist spirit, being the most popular Rusalka .
17- Ruggiero Leoncavallo (1857-1919)
Composer and Italian librettist of opera that composed numerous works during his career, but whose maximum contribution to the music of the romanticism was its work in two acts Pagliacci. Leoncavallo could not escape the overwhelming success of his work, for which he is most remembered to this day.
18- Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Austrian composer, one of the most outstanding conductors of his generation. As a composer, he served as a bridge between the Austro-German tradition of the nineteenth century and the modernism of the early twentieth century. Its music was vetoed during the Nazi era, although it resurfaced after the second war to the being rescued by a new generation of listeners.
19- Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
He was a French composer and, along with Maurice Ravel, one of the most prominent figures associated with musical impressionism. He was knighted by the Legion of Honor in 1903.
His music is notable for its sensory content and frequent use of non-traditional tonalities. The prominent literary style in France during the period in which it developed its work is called Symbolism and was definitely influenced by Debussy, like composer and active cultural participant.
20- Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
French composer who, along with his compatriot Debussy is associated with Impressionism, although both composers rejected the term at the time. In the 1920s and 1930s he was considered the most outstanding French living musician.
21- Richard Strauss (1804-1849)
This composer of Austrian Romanticism was famous for his waltzes, which he popularized with Joseph Lanner. He laid the foundations that his children would use to continue his musical dynasty. His most famous work is the Radetzky March, named after Joseph Radetzky von Radetz.
22- Joseph Lanner (1801-1843)
Austrian composer of dance pieces, he is remembered as one of the first to reform the waltz, turning it from a simple popular dance into a genre that the high society could enjoy. He was as famous as his friend and musical rival Johann Strauss.
23- Amy Beach (1867-1944)
American pianist and composer, she was the first American-born composer who excelled in the world of artistic music. As a pianist, she was well-known in concerts she performed in the United States and Germany.
Wrote the Gaelic Symphony and the Concert for Piano in C minor . She was also a musical intellectual who wrote for newspapers, magazines and other publications.