What makes music romantic? Like beauty, romanticism is in the eye—or ear—of the beholder. As a musical movement, it is generally associated with nineteenth century Europe though the romantic movement actually originated in Germany. Its visual symbol, used by poets from Novalis to Eichendorff, is Die blaue Blume (The blue Flower). In this exquisite trilogy of romantic classical music, The Romantic Approach explores the origin of music romanticism, French and Italian romantic music, and 20th century American romantic music written after the end of the romantic era.
The first volume in this trilogy, The Romantic Approach: A Special Collection of 20th Century American Music (13087-2) may have surprised listeners who felt that contemporary America has produced very little romantic art. The diverse roster of some of the last century's finest composers also reflects the diversity in the music, from jazz influence to classical. This collection of works echo the lyrical, tonal style of European classical music of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The Romantic Approach, Volume Two: A Special Collection of Classical Music from Italy and France (13101-2) showcases the very heart of romantic literature. Of all the countries in the world, France and Italy have been those most associated with things romantic; even the sounds of their languages are musical, and that song-like quality has certainly colored much of the music of these two countries. Some of the works and composers on this volume will be familiar to opera lovers, a central part of the musical life of these countries, although all selections are instrumental. It is rounded out with unjustly neglected masterpieces from several gifted French and Italian composers, reaching all the way into the present time.
The Romantic Approach, Volume Three: Classical Music from Germany (13162-2) takes us back to the origin of the Romantic movement—to Germany—and to the emotional works of some of its greatest composers. These composers could move their listeners without having to resort to painting a particular image in sound. This is music that can speak to the emotions without dictating which emotion you should feel; in fact, it can evoke a different vision or story in each listener.
The Romantic Approach / Complete Edition (3CD)
Celestial Harmonies 19910-2
UPC 0 1371 19910 2 4
Volume Two:
Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana
by Pietro Mascagni
Clair de Lune from Suite bergamasque
by Claude Debussy
Prélude V for String Orchestra
by Jean Françaix
Berceuse from Dolly Suite Op. 56
by Gabriel Fauré
Andantino from
Sonata for Strings No. 1 in G
by Gioachino Rossini
Largo from Concerto in C
for Mandolin and Strings RV 425
by Antonio Vivaldi
Nocturne from La Boutique Fantasque
by Ottorino Respighi
Crisantemi by Giacomo Puccini
Andantino from String Quartet
by Giuseppe Verdi
Notturno Op. 70 No. 1
by Giuseppe Martuccci
Andantino, doucement expressif
from String Quartet
by Claude Debussy
Andante religioso / Meditation from Thaïs
by Jules Massenet
Très lent from String Quartet
by Maurice Ravel
Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie
Celestial Harmonies 13101-2
UPC 0 1371 13101 2 2
Volume One:
Quiet City by Aaron Copland
Lonely Town (Pas de deux) from
On the Town: Three Dance Episodes
by Leonard Bernstein
Hymn and Fuguing Tune No. 2
by Henry Cowell
Elegy by Elliott Carter
Adagio from String Quartet
by Samuel Barber
Dream by John Cage
Lullaby by George Gershwin
A Night Piece by Arthur Foote
3rd Movement from
Quartet for Violin, Clarinet, Cello and Piano
by Peter Schickele
Village of the Virgins from
Suite from the River by Duke Ellington
Painted Desert from Grand Canyon Suite
by Ferde Grofé
The Unanswered Question
from Two Contemplations
by Charles Ives
Celestial Harmonies 13087-2
UPC 0 1371 13087 2 3
Volume Three:
Adagio sostenuto from
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor Op. 27 No. 2
by Ludwig van Beethoven
Fantasia from Clarinet Quintet in B Flat Major Op. 34
by Carl Maria von Weber
Romance No. 2 in F Major Op. 50
by Ludwig van Beethoven
Songs without Words Book 7 No. 41 in A Major Op. 85 No. 5
by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Kol Nidrei Adagio on Hebraic Melodies
Op. 47 by Max Bruch
Langsam getragen from Fantasie in C Major Op. 17
by Robert Schumann
Adagio from Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in B Minor Op. 115
by Johannes Brahms
Siegfried Idyll by Richard Wagner
Celestial Harmonies 13162-2
UPC 0 1371 13162 2 3