Question 1: Describe the overall mood or emotion conveyed by a typical Romantic piece of music. What musical elements contribute to this mood?

Answer: Romantic music often conveys intense emotions such as love, longing, or melancholy. Elements like expressive melodies, dynamic contrasts, and rich harmonies contribute to this emotional effect.

Question 2: Listen carefully to a passage where the melody is very expressive and wide-ranging. What term is used to describe a melody that moves by large intervals and is very expressive?

Answer: The term is 'lyrical' or 'expressive melody'.

Question 3: Identify the type of harmony that became popular during the Romantic period due to its richness and complexity. Describe how it differs from earlier harmony.

Answer: Chromatic harmony became popular, incorporating notes outside the traditional key. It is more colorful and expressive compared to the simpler diatonic harmony of earlier periods.

Question 4: Describe the role of dynamics in Romantic music. How do composers use dynamics to enhance emotional expression?

Answer: Composers use sudden changes in loudness, such as crescendos and decrescendos, to heighten emotional intensity and create drama within the music.

Question 5: Listen to a passage with a prominent solo instrument playing an expressive melody. Which instrument is most commonly associated with lyrical, emotional melodies in Romantic music?

Answer: The violin is most commonly associated with lyrical, emotional melodies during the Romantic era.

Question 6: Explain what a 'tone poem' is and how it relates to Romantic music.

Answer: A tone poem is a piece of orchestral music that tells a story or paints a scene, often inspired by nature, literature, or emotions. It exemplifies the Romantic focus on programmatic and expressive music.

Question 7: Sketch a rough outline of a melodic line that is characteristic of Romantic music. Your sketch should include large, sweeping contours that rise and fall in an expressive manner.

Answer: A correct sketch would show a large, flowing melodic line with wide intervals, expressive peaks and valleys, reflecting the emotional and lyrical qualities of Romantic melodies.

Question 8: Describe how the use of tempo can affect the mood of Romantic music. Provide an example of a tempo marking that might be used.

Answer: Tempo influences the energy and mood; a slow tempo like 'Andante' or 'Adagio' creates a calm, reflective mood, while a faster tempo like 'Allegro' or 'Presto' adds excitement or intensity.

Question 9: List two common features of Romantic music that were less typical in Classical music.

Answer: Two features are the use of chromaticism for emotional color and the expansion of form and length of compositions to include more expressive and elaborate sections.

Question 10: Think of a famous Romantic composer, such as Chopin or Tchaikovsky. Describe one characteristic of their music that makes it distinctly Romantic.

Answer: Chopin’s music often features lyrical melodies, expressive use of rubato, and rich harmonies that evoke deep emotion, making it distinctly Romantic.