Carl Maria von Weber

Nationality: German

Born: Eutin, November 18^th/19^th 1876

Died: London, 5^th June 1826

Type of music: German romantic opera, Clarinet music

Main works: Der Freischutz (1821), Oberon (1826), 2 Clarinet concertos, Clarinet Quintet (1814), Aufforderung zum Tanz (1819)

Weber's musical education began at a young age when he took lessons from Joseph Haydn's brother, Michael, in Salzburg. He then went on to study in Vienna and by the time he was 14 years old, he had written his first opera.

He spent over 10 years working in courts and theatres in Germany and during this time wrote a lot of his instrumental pieces, he was then appointed the director of the Prague opera in 1813.

In 1816 Weber was appointed as the Kapellmeister at Dresden court. His focus in the coming years would be to establish a style of German opera that would see him become an early figurehead in the nationalist movement. 1821 saw the premiere of this most notable opera, 'Der Freischutz', which was based on a story from German folklore.

The operas that proceeded 'Der Freischutz' did not achieve quite the same success. When 'Euryanthe' opened in Vienna in 1823 it only saw 20 performances. His opera 'Oberon' was commissioned by the Royal Opera house in London, and even though his health was failing, he managed to conduct the performance in April of 1826. Weber died in London in the June of the same year.

Weber's legacy proved important for the early work of Richard Wagner which was composed in the same German romantic style.

“Weber, who seems to whisper in my earr like a familiar spirit, inhabiting a happy sphere where he awaits to console me” - Berlioz

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Vincenzo Bellini

Nationality: Italian

Born: Catania, November 3^rd 1801

Died: Puteaux, September 23^rd 1835

Type of music: Opera

Main works: La Sonnambula (1830), Norma (1831)

Bellini, like Donizetti, was an Italian operatic composer in the early romantic period. His career also saw him journey west to London and then Paris, where he died shortly before his 34^th birthday.

Bellini was taught music at an early age from his father and grandfather, and then at the age of 18 he attended the Royal Conservatory in Naples. It was here his compositional career began and in 1825 the school produced and performed his first opera 'Adelson e Salvini'.

Further commissions soon came from Naples and Milan and in 1827 his opera 'Il pirata' was produced at the famous La Scala theatre and was met with great success. The libretto for this opera was written by Felice Romani, who collaborated with Bellini on several more operas, the last of which was 'Beatrice di Tenda' in 1833.

Soon after this, Bellini arrived in Paris where his last operatic commission was produced. 'I puritani' was produced at the Italian theatre in Paris in 1835, which also produced Donizetti's 'Don Pasquale'.

The Bel Canto style of opera that Bellini, Rossini and Donizetti composed in during this period did not survive through the rise of nationalism and the late romantic period, but found it's revival in the 20^th Century.

“Long, long melodies, such as no one has ever written before”. - Giuseppe Verdi

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Gaetano Donizetti

Nationality: Italian

Born: Bergamo, November 29^th 1797

Died: Bergamo, April 8^th 1848

Type of music: Bel Canto Opera, songs, symphonies

Main works: L'elisir d'amore (1832), Lucrezia Borgia (1833), Don Pasquale (1843)

Although Donizetti was born into a poor family, he was able to gain a musical education thanks to another operatic composer, Johann Mayr, who founded a free music school in Bergamo. He studied for two further years in Bologna and after which, he began his compositional career.

By 1822 he had already written the opera 'Zoraida di Granata' for a theatre in Rome, and in next few years after he moved to Naples, he was completing up to 5 operas a year. It was in 1830 when he achieved success on the international stage with his opera 'Anna Bolena', After which he began writing for numerous theatres. In 1833, he completed 'Lucrezia Borgia' for the La Scala opera house in Milan.

In 1838, Donizetti moved to Paris where his work was very well received. Works which he completed in this period of his life include 'La fille du regiment', 'Les martyrs' and 'La favorite'.

In 1842, during the period in which he was in ill health, he was appointed as the Kapellmeister to an Austrian court. His last opera, 'Don Pasquale' has it's premiere at the Italian theatre in Paris in 1843.

“My heyday is over, and another must take my place. The world wants something new. Others have ceded their places to us and we must cede ours to still others.. I am more than happy to give mine to people of talent like Verdi. ” - Donizetti, 1844.

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Gioacchino Rossini

Nationality: Italian

Born: Pesaro, February 29^th 1792

Died: Paris, November 13^th 1868

Type of music: Opera

Main works: William Tell (1829), Stabat Mater (1832-41), Petite messe solennelle (1863)

After Mozart, only a few operas were impressive enough to survive and impress Italy's lively audiences, until Rossini.

Rossini was only 15 when he composed his first opera, 'Dementrio e Polibio'. From 1810 to 1822 Rossini wrote a vast number of operas for productions all over Italy, in both the regular and comedy genres. An example of an opera from this period is 'The barber of Seville', which had it's debut in Rome in 1816. This opera is based on a prequel to 'The Marriage of Figaro'.

In 1822, Rossini settled in Paris and married the singer Isabella Colbran, who created several of the soprano roles for his operas. He continued composing and in 1829 he composed his most famous opera, 'William Tell'. This is his last major operatic work and in fact after this period, his only two compositions in later life are two scared works, including a Stabat Mater.

Rossini was immeasurably innovative in the field of opera. He is one of the first composers to use an orchestra to accompany the recitatives, and helped develop the standard form of an aria which consisted of slow 'cavatina' phrases and fast 'caballeto' phrases.

“Rossini, in music, is the genius of sheer animal spirits.” - Leigh Hunt

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Franz Schubert

 

Nationality: Austrian

Born: Vienna, January 31^st 1797

Died: Vienna, November 19^th 1828

Type of music: Songs, piano music, Symphonies, String quartets

Main works: 7 complete symphonies, over 600 songs (including Ave Maria)

Schubert composed in all the same genres as his contemporaries, but is most well remembered for his vast output of songs and chamber music, and at the time was celebrated for it, particularly in Austria.

A great number of Schubert's songs were written to text settings of poetry by the poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. An example of an early song by Schubert is 'Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel' which is based on 'Faust' by Goethe. By the time Schubert was 20, as well as having written a great number of songs, he had written his 4^th an 5^th Symphonies too.

In 1817, Schubert was dedicating most of his time to composition now, instead of teaching as well and continued composing songs and also composed 7 piano sonatas in the same year.

Schubert was at the centre of a renowned and exclusive social scene in Vienna, consisting of musicians, writers and poets. They would gather together for salons to hear poetry readings and most importantly, Schubert's music. These salons were known as 'Schubertiads'.

Schubert continued composing songs right until the end of his life. 'Standchen', the famous serenade was composed in the last months of his life. In the September of 1828 he also composed his string quarter in C major.

“The art of music has buried here a rich possession, but still fairer hopes” - Epitaph

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John Field

Nationality: Irish

Born: Dublin, July 26^th 1782

Died: Moscow, January 23^rd 1837

Type of music: Piano music

Main works: 18 Nocturnes

John field seems to elude the classical music repertoire today, especially in the concert format. It seems unjust, as he is one of the very first romantics, and would be influential to many composers after him.

He learned piano reluctantly with instruction from his father, a violinist at a Dublin theatre, but would make significant progress under Muzio Clementi, who also employed Field as a piano salesman in his showrooms.

Until Field, Composition was restricted to coercive form, but he introduced a new writing style, which consisted of single movement pieces. He is credited as the first composer to publish a new type of piece called a “Nocturne”. These are single movement pieces rich with feeling and emotion.

Field's 18 Nocturnes are lyrical and melancholic, a reflection of his own weak disposition and character. He was not confined to the service of the church or the nobility and disregarded fame, so his Nocturnes were a means to express his emotions to himself and for himself. It is said he would practice with coins on the back of his hands to perfect his gentle playing style that was required for these pieces. The Italian school believe the Nocturnes of the romantic period were inspired by the 'Notturno', an Italian song with a grander character and lavish melodies, so when John Field played his Nocturnes for the aristocratic audiences of Milan, Venice and Naples in 1832, they were left somewhat disappointed by his delicate touch and melancholy.

Nocturnes are synonymous with the composer Frederic Chopin, who played Field's Nocturnes in his own public performances. Chopin admired this new style of composition and would set out to develop it to his own taste. The two sets of Nocturnes still share many similarities.

Many other composers of the romantic era owe thanks to John Field's new style of writing, as it opened the opportunity for such pieces as Lieder ohne worte, impromptus, ballads and other types of lyric pieces.

"I am a pianist” - Field

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Ludwig Van Beethoven

Nationality: German

Born: Bonn, Baptized December 17^th 1770

Died: Vienna, March 26^th 1827

Type of music: Symphonies, String quartets, Piano concertos, Piano sonatas

Main works: 9 symphonies including no.6 (Pastoral), 32 piano sonatas including no.8 (Pathetique), 5 piano concertos

While Mozart lived under the constraints of the classical period, Ludwig Van Beethoven came of age during the French revolution. This was a time of vast social changes and political unrest, which would shape Beethoven's work immeasurably. He worked with the classical traditions but remained an individual in a changing world. The Romantic era was coming.

Beethoven was born into a musical family, although by around the age of 9 or 10 he was taught by the organist Christian Neefe, who helped him write and publish his very first compositions, a set of keyboard variations which were published in 1783. In 1787, Neefe also sent Beethoven to Vienna to have lessons with Mozart and in 1792, He travelled to Vienna again for lessons with Haydn, and he settled there.

Beethoven quickly made a name for himself and by 1795 he had given his first public concert, during which he played a newly composed piano concerto of his own. A year later he had composed and published a set of piano trios and three piano sonatas. Although Beethoven was using classical traditions, his music was emotive and full of passion, seen his first symphony composed in 1800.

By 1802, Beethoven came to terms with his hearing loss and would eventually become deaf. His romantic nature would make him continue to compose and achieve as much as possible in his lifetime. His anguish and despair seems to be apparent in his work, for example in symphony no.3, which contains a funeral march.

Beethoven composed one opera, 'fidelio', a story of the French revolution, although after it's debut in 1805, Beethoven continued composing instrumental music due to it being unsuccessful.

In 1808, Beethoven's symphonies no.5 and no.6 were premièred at the same concert. Symphony no.6 was innovative for its programmatic content, as it depicted various scenes in Austrian country life. This was a trait that would help define music in the romantic era.

Unlike Haydn, Beethoven was not employed under the service of one family, but he did have many patrons to gave him financial security. The famous 'emperor' piano concerto no.5 is dedicated to one of these patrons, Archduke Rudolph.

By 1818 Beethoven was withdrawing himself from public life, after becoming completely deaf. He continued to compose. Some of his most introspective and emotive work appeared after this time, including his last three piano sonatas. Between 1822-24, Beethoven composed his infamous Choral symphony, which was unique for the vocal setting in it's final movement.

"Nature would burst should she attempt to produce nothing save Beethovens” - Schumann

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