Romantic Era: Influential Events, Institutions, and People

Nationalism brought about an interesting turn of events for musical composition. Through most of the nineteenth century composers were striving to perfect the German-Austrian styles of writing music. However later in the century they started using musical ideas which were common in their own native countries. Traditionally each country’s folk music had been kept separate from the classical compositions, but suddenly it was becoming the basis for many works. Music was becoming a symbol of national pride.

In America, the Gold Rush was a large driving force for migration into the new undeveloped territory. Along with it came folk songs of hope and devastation.