romantic

The Romantic era prioritised personal expression, emotional intensity, and artistic individualism over the Classical period's emphasis on formal balance and restraint. Orchestras grew larger, harmonies became more complex, and compositions expanded in both duration and emotional scope. The major Romantic composers include Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms, Wagner, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, and Mahler. The era produced the tone poem, the music drama, the song cycle, and the virtuoso concerto. Late Romanticism pushed chromaticism to its limits, eventually leading to the breakdown of traditional tonality in the early 20th century.