Select a composer from the unit, choose one of his compositions and find two different recordings of it. Which recording do you like best? Why? Which recording sounds the most characteristic of “Romantic” music?

Some famous composers in the romantic era would be Schubert, Chopin, Berlioz and Bizet. I would choose Chopin as I play piano.

Chopin composed Polonaise in A flat major. It begins boldly with octaves on the dominant, and proceeds to have parallel chords in a majestic maestoso style. In both recordings, the performers highlights this style by playing the chords with a more accented touch. Characteristics are found in this piece with traits from the Romantic era. The Polonaise is a stately dance originating from Poland, and Chopin’s composition throughout represents his nationalism for his country. Nationalism was a big part of romanticism, as with its fascination for cultures and foreign lands, as well shown in many exotic pieces created during this time. Furthermore, Romanticsm is expressed in the Polonaise with it’s section B being performed with highly virtuosic staccato octaves in the left hand, and many chromatic embellishments throughout. Chromatic harmony is a big part of Romanticsm, as well as Chopins Polonaise in A flat major.

The right answer is d