The Daily Book of Classical Music

DAY 201

CLASSICAL MUSIC PERIODS

Late Romanticism

NOW IT’S GETTING PERSONAL

The late Romantic era had two distinct musical characteristics. The first was the emergence of a nationalistic pride and the use of folk melodies. The second was the development of “programmatic music,” where the piece itself told a specific story, and certain musical motives represented recurring characters in the story.

Nationalism ran strong throughout post-Napoleon Europe. Countries strived to rediscover their national identity in the face of occupation or oppression, ...