What period of Romanticism do you like the most --- and why?

[Florestan]

Explanation of the timeframes I chose:

1830 - First performance of Symphonie Fantastique

1865 - First performance of Tristan und Isolde

1911 - Death of Mahler

Of course, the limits are fluid, I use these only as signposts.

You are allowed only one vote. If you'd add a short (or long) explanation for it, it'll be much appreciated.

[chasmaniac]

I voted for early, when it still had a vestige of civilized form about it. But I'll lend an ear to works of any romantic composer who didn't think the historical development of World-Spirit culminated between his own ears.

[Florestan]

I voted for early, when it still had a vestige of civilized form about it. But I'll lend an ear to works of any romantic composer who didn't think the historical development of World-Spirit culminated between his own ears.

Thanks for voting. 

OTOMH, I can't think of any composer fitting your bill... 

[Gurn Blanston]

Thanks for voting. 

OTOMH, I can't think of any composer fitting your bill... 

cough cough *wagner* cough cough....

[chasmaniac]

cough cough *wagner* cough cough....

Whispered: Gurn, you said a bad word!

[karlhenning]

I voted Middle (though, of course, I do like music from all 'periods').  Berlioz and Chopin are the especial drivers for my vote.

[mc ukrneal]

Ok, I think you finally found a poll where I am completely undecided. The early romantics like Schubert, Weber, well they are great. The middle period gets even better in some ways with the likes of Schuman and Chopin, but there is nothing like that early innocence. And some of the late romantics are among my favorites (voting against Brahms and Dvorak together - not sure I can do that!!). I find I am having difficulty choosing! 

If push comes to shove, I think I'd choose late, but I love it all!

[Florestan]

cough cough *wagner* cough cough....

Wagner revered Mozart and Beethoven.

[Antoine Marchand]

Explanation of the timeframes I chose:

1830 - First performance of Symphonie Fantastique

1865 - First performance of Tristan und Isolde

1911 - Death of Mahler

Of course, the limits are fluid, I use these only as signposts.

You are allowed only one vote. If you'd add a short (or long) explanation for it, it'll be much appreciated.

It's an impossible decision for me because I love Schubert, Chopin and Brahms exactly at the same degree (although some days I think I prefer one of them) and then Schumann, Mendelssohn and Dvorak are very close, although probably just Scumann be a genuine Romantic. 

[Florestan]

The early romantics like Schubert, Weber, well they are great. The middle period gets even better in some ways with the likes of Schuman and Chopin, but there is nothing like that early innocence. And some of the late romantics are among my favorites (voting against Brahms and Dvorak together - not sure I can do that!!). I find I am having difficulty choosing! 

It's an impossible decision for me because I love Schubert, Chopin and Brahms exactly at the same degree (although some days I think I prefer one of them) and then Schumann, Mendelssohn and Dvorak are very close, although probably just Scumann be a genuine Romantic. 

Hah! My thoughts exactly --- that's why I didn't vote myself. 

[Lethevich]

I especially like the late-late Romanticism lasting up until around WWII.

As already mentioned, being torn between Schumann (mid) and Dvořák (late) means that I can't really vote....

[Florestan]

Now, TBH, I personally find Dvorak and Brahms to be rather strange beasts in the company of the holy trinity of Late Romanticism, namely Wagner / Mahler / Bruckner. They can be linked --- not chronologically, but musically --- rather to Middle / Early.

[Lethevich]

Now, TBH, I personally find Dvorak and Brahms to be rather strange beasts in the company of the holy trinity of Late Romanticism, namely Wagner / Mahler / Bruckner. They can be linked --- not chronologically, but musically --- rather to Middle / Early.

It's also interesting that many composers writing in this tradition up until the 1940s (Peterson-Berger, Sinding, etc) tended to synthesize the richness of late Romanticism's harmonies and concepts with the structured approach of the middle period - many consciously turned away from Wagner and Mahler's pushing at the seams, despite often still idolising those composers. In a way, the "late Romanticism" tag used to describe Liszt-Wagner-Mahler-Strauss was a language that only a minority of composers at the time ever wrote in.

[Florestan]

It's also interesting that many composers writing in this tradition up until the 1940s (Peterson-Berger, Sinding, etc) tended to synthesize the richness of late Romanticism's harmonies and concepts with the structured approach of the middle period - many consciously turned away from Wagner and Mahler's pushing at the seams, despite often still idolising those composers. In a way, the "late Romanticism" tag used to describe Liszt-Wagner-Mahler-Strauss was a language that only a minority of composers at the time ever wrote in.

Interesting.

[Lethevich]

I'm weak, I had to click something, so voted late As a blanket description it seems to offer the most promise of musical riches to me - Strauss, Suk, Tchaikovsky...

[Mn Dave]

Oh, let's just say Early, before certain composers got too big for the britches.  0:)

[Sergeant Rock]

For me the late period contains my personal trinity: Wagner (Tristan, the Ring, Parsifal), Bruckner, Mahler.

Sarge

[DavidW]

Brahms, Mahler and Bruckner = late for me.

[DavidW]

Oh no the Brahms vs Wagner debate jumps out with that, the only difference between Sarge and I.

[karlhenning]

No, I think Sarge will respect your election of Brahms.

. . . though I somehow doubt that he has half so many Deutsches Requiems as he has Rings : )