How Did Music change in the Romantic Period in the Works of Such Composers like Beethoven - Essay Example

The sublime according to Kant is a presentation of the concept of reason. He argues that beauty goes beyond aesthetics into reasoning (Rookmaaker 342). It is a response to our understanding. He argues that the sublime is greater and goes beyond physical and therefore whatever is compared to the sublime should be small. The literary, which is aesthetical, connects itself to nature. Artists began to recognize the sublime, and they began to inculcate its aspects of their artistic works as a way of expressing their inner conflicts to the rest of the world. Romantics particularly were attracted to the sublime. Subjects such as landscape, skyscrapers, and even large cities attracted the writers who used the principles of the sublime to describe nature.  Romantic paintings of landscapes and included the inhabited lands which are commonly referred to as pastoral. These images represent the features of peasants and shepherds a deviation from the sublime, which concerned itself with the wild nature.

American Mindscape was influenced by romantic art, literature, and ideology. Romantic literature influenced the American representation and conceptualization of nature. Romantic thinkers emphasized emotional experience, therefore, propagating the sense of sensibility to nature. Their ideas challenged the Americans to acknowledge their similarity and relationship to the natural world because both are God’s creations. Nature’s beauty was viewed as a pure construct of God and was accorded some respect. Emerson’s paintings by Hudson River School are a great display of how Americans relate well to their land. They believe that nature is proof of God’s provision and since then, Americans have given nature a religious significance (Rookmaaker 321). Additionally, Henry Clay’s painting, Kindred Spirits, which represents Hudson High School, provides a wonderfully detailed romantic inspired figure. It is a good example of how sublime beauty has influenced landscape paintings.

Romanticism landscape took its roots in Germany in the 18th century. The drawings of Friedrich that focused on the coastal meadow are good examples of appreciation of nature. In England, notable works of William Gilpin are evident. He urged everyone to appreciate nature through the mediation of art. His works received a tremendous response when architects began to make landscape pictures. A good example of the pastoral tradition in England is found in the work of Constable, who drew a landscape of his journey from seldom to Brighton.

The romantic period witnessed changes in music. The evolution of music genres, especially those of Beethoven was evident. Among the music genres developed were a program symphony and sonata. Composers of this period turned to poetry, drama, literature, and visual art for inspiration. They concentrated on the new melodic styles, dissonance, and richer harmonies in an effort to captivate their audience. They departed from the classical tradition. This departure gave them the freedom to experiment on the Romanism tradition. This period also allowed extreme individualism, which gave freedom to many musicians. Conclusively, the Romanticism period was characterized by the acknowledgment of nature in all aspects of literature and music.