During the 19th century, along with great concerts and symphonies, there was a development of small forms. This kind of music was performed in private spaces and small halls, and was a very popular entertainment during the evenings. The new forms of small music became more popular than the Classical period's chamber music.
5.2.1. Lied
Lied means song in German. Musically it is a short form written for voice and piano, and based on a poetic text.
These pieces were popular, short and melodic, making it easy to be sung for almost everyone. The melody and the piano join together to express mood and meaning. Formally lied had three common structures:
Below you can listen and enjoy a beautiful creation based upon a lied by Franz Schubert:
5.2.2. Piano
The piano was the most important instrument during the Romanticism. It was the king of instruments, since it could express all the complexities and feelings of a whole orchestra.
Also, the piano reached its optimal technical development, reaching a high sensitivity and precision.
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| Sculpture dedicated to Chopin |
All these advances allowed Romantic composers to create pieces with character, composed upon simple or free structures and giving freedom to feel and fantasy.
These pieces have names that reflect the intimate feelings (nocturne, ballad, prelude), imagination (rhapsody) or popular themes and dances (waltz, polonaise, mazurka).
Some of the most important composers for this instrument belong in the Romatic period, names such as Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, Robert Schumann or Franz Schubert.
Chopin and Listz were also the greatest performers of their time, and rivaled in virtuosity with brilliant pieces of extraordinary difficulty. They were celebrated like the Rock Stars of the Romantic period.
Listen to this interesting performance of Chopin's Nocturne in E flat Major: 