Romantic Era: Influential Events, Institutions, and People

The Romantic Era is the label given to the time period that began in the late 18th century, 1780, and lasted until the late 1800’s.  This was a time period when European art, music, and literature all began to explore similar themes such as the supernatural, joy, pain, and love, night and moonlight, nature, and dreams.  Music from the Romantic era was known for its ability to express emotion.   While Beethoven is technically considered a Classical Era composer, his innovations with musical form, expression, and emotion had a great influence on the composers of the Romantic Era.  In many ways, his music has more in common with that of the Romantic Era than that of the Classical Era.  Because of this, Beethoven and his music are considered a “bridge” between the Classical and Romantic Eras.