People in the Romantic Period Believed That Music Has the Ability to Communicate Aspects of Life That Reason and Rationality Cannot
Music is a medium that for centuries has swayed man in a way no other medium ever has. This is a statement backed by the progress the field of music, be it classical or contemporary has made throughout history. There are many who consider music to be the most effective medium if one wishes to express himself/herself. There are those who say that this is not entirely true as not everyone has musical knowledge and prowess. However, one it cannot be denied that a person’s musical choice helps them express themselves too.
Those who belonged to the Romantic Period believed that music was the most effective medium to comprehend life rather than the use of reality and rationality. There are various reasons due to which these people savored this belief.
During the Fifteenth Century, just like all other forms of art was considered to be a part of patronage. It was considered to be a medium which the common public did not use for expression or were even exposed to. The main reason for this was due to the fact that it seemed an expensive art, one that involved talented musicians clad in elaborate costumes who performed complicated instruments (Plantinga, 1984).
In 1637, however, a public opera house opened in Venice which changed the dynamics between music and the people. For the first time, the common public was exposed to music, music which portrayed human condition to them in a way unlike any other. They could see actors and singers on stage relaying to them the facts of life in a way that was unconventional and they immediately related to it. This led to the popularity of music and expression amongst the common masses. Due to this popularity, opera houses for the public were opened all over Europe, in Paris, Hamburg, Naples (Plantinga, 1984).
Shortly after this, the “concert culture” came about in the Seventeenth Century, when the public was invited to listen to masterpieces conducted by maestros. Hence, music became a crucial part of the European society (Plantinga, 1984).
As it is common knowledge, towards the end of the Eighteenth Century, the masses became much more aware of themselves. The patronage and the aristocracy were important, but it was the public which emerged as an entity with needs and wants. Due to this awakening, music like other art forms became a commodity, one that the public enjoyed immensely. People started investing money in musical instruments for their homes. The music printing industry also highly benefitted from this newfound taste for music by the public (Plantinga, 1984). This was a time when people started realizing that music was a medium through which they could not only listen to human expression, but also express their inner feelings. This was when music stopped being only a source of entertainment and instead became a medium through which artists could speak without having to say words. Music, just like other art forms became a tool for raised voices.
Romantic music originated from those who wished to take aid of the pre-existing classical forms and express themselves. There are various definitions for this certain type of music, the best of which used by critics are “abstract”, “indefinite”, imaginative (Plantinga, 1984). This certain type of music focused on open expression rather than complicated symphonies. The musicians who produced this type of music used the medium of music to express their thoughts, beliefs and feelings towards life. Those who enjoyed it immensely enjoyed it mainly because this type of music highlighted the complexities of life in an uncommon way. For the musicians, the use of music for expression became the basis for their art. The music from this era was not just beautiful sound only, instead it had messages and voices that the musicians wanted to relay.
The public became attached to this art form, mostly because it now did not remain something beyond their comprehension. They now could understand and relate to the symphonies and hence believed that it was a better means of approaching life rather than reality. As mentioned above, music was a part of the public’s normal life; it became to them a need, a pleasure. The introduction of Romantic age of music heightened their pleasure and enjoyment as it encompassed human expression like never before.
Classical music being methodological was limited in terms of expression. Romantic music on the other hand comprised of the essence of classical music and a more modern way of expression. It made not only the masses, but also the composers themselves feel elated. Just like other art forms of this era, Romantic music also managed to make mankind see the beauty in life.
The people of this era were not wrong in having the belief that this age of music was a better means to understand the intricacies of life. Music is a tool that can definitely be used to speak of the human condition. It has the potential to speak of the complexities of life in a much simpler way than logic through textbooks or documents does. The reason being for it is simple; music provides pleasure at the same time that it exposes you to the harshness of life.
The same things which composers of that era have tried to convey in their compositions might not be as apparent if they were conveyed via other mediums such as literature or artworks. The feelings and emotions that one experiences while listening to music from the Romantic era are completely pure but one cannot be sure that these feelings would be induced even via another medium. This was one of the foremost reasons why the people of this certain era preferred music over other mediums and used it largely to understand reality and comprehend life.
Bibliography
Plantinga, L. (1984). Romantic Music. New York: W.W. Norton.
