Romantic era timeline

Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827)

1810

Key to the beginning of romanticism. Introduced the heroic topic in orchestral music. Composed 9 symphonies, 32 piano sonatas, and many many other chamber, choral, etc. pieces.

Romantic era

Period: 1810 to 1890

E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776-1822)

1811

German author and composer. Wrote The Nutcracker. His works epitomize romanticism.

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

1812

The most famous composer of the early 19th century in Vienna. Composed choral music and operas. Italian. Most known works are William Tell Overture and Barber of Seville.

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

1815

Austrian composer. Created the Lieder genre, which was artistic and dramatic, involved frequent modulations, and expansive melodies. Composed over 600 Lieder, several symphonies and operas, choral music, etc.

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

1816

French composer, conductor, writer. Leading French musician of his day, and his works embody romanticism. Composed symphonies, operas, chamber music, etc. as well as some untraditional genres.

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

1820

Composer, editor, critic. Lost sanity at a young age. Composed 4 symphonies, Lieder, chamber music, concertos, piano works, and 1 opera.

Frederic Francois Chopin (1810-1849)

1821

Polish/French composer and pianist. Innovated new piano techniques, and wrote some of the most influential piano works. More famous today than during his life.

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

1822

Virtuoso pianist, conductor. Supporter of Wagner, inventor of the orchestral tone poem. Composed Lieder, concertos, piano works, and tone poems.

Guiseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

1825

Leading Italian opera composer of the era. National hero of Italy. Composed some choral music and 26 operas.

Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

1826

Creator of German Music Drama. conductor, writer, composer. Wrote about music of the future, and was anti-semetic. Composed operas, music dramas, and 2 symphonies.

Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880)

1828

Founder of Opera bouffe. Introduced the can-can. Compsoed dramatic works, vocal works, ballets, works for cello.

Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)

1830

Austrian composer and organist. Follower of Wagner, known for large orchestrations. Incredibly conscientious approach to composition. Composed symphonies, organ works, and choral music.

Johann Strauss (1825-1899)

1832

Viennese composer, conductor, and violinist. called the Waltz-King. Composed mainly operettas.

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

1835

Austrian composer. Classic-romantic composer, strong knowledge of the musical past; One of Bach's first editors; pianist, friends with the Schumanns. Composed symphonies, concertos, Lieder, chamber music, etc.

Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)

1836

French composer, pianist, organist, and writer. Composed orchestral works, chamber music, stage works, etc. Notable composition is Dance Macabre.

Piotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky

1839

Russian composer, conductor, teacher. Western trained. Emotional, conservative harmonic language. Composed stage works, symphonies, concertos, etc.

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1905)

1840

Czech composer, lived in the USA, Influenced by African American and Native American music and culture. Composed 9 symphonies (last one is most famous), chamber music, orchestral works, etc.

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)

1842

The most important Norwegian composer of his time. Composed concertos, orchestral works, chamber music, etc. Significant composition is In The Hall of The Mountain King.

Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)

1845

One of the Russian Mighty Five. Significant as a teacher, conductor, wrote an orchestration treatise. Composed symphonies, chamber music, piano works, etc. Notable composition is Scheherazade.

Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)

1847

French composer, teacher, keyboardist. Forshadowed modern tonality and style. Head of the Paris Conservatory. Composed stage works, vocal and orchestral works, chamber music, etc.

John Philip Sousa (1854-1932)

1850

American composer. Leader of the US Marine Band in 1880. Composed over 100 marches.

Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

1852

English composer. Received international acclaim. Wasn't folksong oriented. Composed symphonies, overtures, piano works, etc. Notable composition is Nimrod.

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

1855

Italian opera composer. Gift for delicate melodies, strove for realism. Most successful Italian opera composer after Verdi. Composed 10 operas, a few instrumental and chamber works.

Hugo Wolf (1886-1903)

1860

Wrote mostly Lieder. Influenced by Wagner. Composed 250 Lieder and one opera.