Question 1: Describe how dynamics are used in a typical Romantic piece to convey emotion. Provide two specific examples of dynamic markings and their possible emotional effect.

Answer: In Romantic music, dynamics are often used expressively to evoke strong emotions. Examples include 'p' (piano) indicating softness to create intimacy or melancholy, and 'ff' (fortissimo) indicating loudness to convey excitement or passion.

Question 2: Identify two common harmonic features of Romantic music and explain how they contribute to the expressive quality of the music.

Answer: Common features include the use of chromaticism, which adds tension and emotional depth, and extended chords like ninths and thirteenths that create richer, more colorful harmonies.

Question 3: Listen carefully and describe the mood or atmosphere created by the use of melody in a typical Romantic piece. What characteristics of the melody support this mood?

Answer: The melody is likely to be expressive, lyrical, and wide-ranging, often featuring sweeping phrases that evoke feelings of longing, heroism, or melancholy, supporting the emotional intensity of the music.

Question 4: Explain the significance of program music in the Romantic era. How does it differ from absolute music?

Answer: Program music is composed to tell a story or depict a scene, often inspired by literature, nature, or personal emotion. Unlike absolute music, which is intended to be enjoyed purely for its musical qualities, program music has a narrative or descriptive element.

Question 5: Sketch a simple outline of a possible Romantic-era musical phrase or motif. Describe what features you would include to make it expressive.

Answer: A correct sketch would include a flowing, lyrical melody with expressive use of dynamics and possibly some chromatic notes. The phrase might have a wide range of pitch and include a crescendo or decrescendo to enhance emotional expression.

Question 6: Identify and describe the typical use of a key change (modulation) in Romantic music. Why was this technique important for emotional expression?

Answer: Modulation often occurs to distant keys to increase tension or surprise, or to evoke different moods within a piece. It enhances emotional impact by creating a sense of journey or drama.

Question 7: Discuss the role of the orchestra in Romantic music. How did composers use the orchestra differently than in earlier periods?

Answer: Romantic composers expanded the orchestra, adding new instruments and employing more varied and expressive techniques. They used the orchestra to create vivid soundscapes and to produce a wider range of emotional effects.

Question 8: List three techniques Romantic composers used to create a sense of drama or tension in their music.

Answer: Techniques include sudden changes in dynamics, chromatic harmonies, and dramatic shifts in tempo or rhythm.

Question 9: Explain what is meant by 'rubato' and how it was used in Romantic performance practice.

Answer: Rubato involves flexible tempo, allowing the performer to slightly speed up or slow down for expressive purposes. It was used to enhance emotional delivery and personal interpretation.

Question 10: Draw a melodic line that could represent the expressive style of a Romantic composer. Include annotations indicating dynamics and expressive markings.

Answer: A correct sketch would show a lyrical, flowing melody with wide intervals, marked with dynamic symbols such as 'p' (piano), 'f' (forte), and expressive markings like 'rallentando' or 'crescendo'.