Let's see what a romance is

In music, there are many genres, forms and varieties of vocal and instrumental plays. Know the characteristics of each musical element is required only by a professional in the field, but understand what the most common of them are, preferably everyone. Therefore, in this article we will consider what a romance is, how long it was born and in what area of creativity it can be found.

Origin of the term

The very word "romance" has Spanish roots and means a song that is played by a voice accompanied by one or several instruments. In this country in the past centuries, this genre was more like serenades, which the loving men sang at the windows of their beloved. In the Middle Ages, when the romance only settled in the art world as an independent genre, it had a pronounced national character. The text was lengthy, the meaning of it concerned exclusively the love topic. It was also characteristic that the plays of such content were performed only under the national Spanish instrument - the guitar.

What is a romance in terms of music

It is believed that this vocal-instrumental genre is the most harmonious among all its analogues. This is due to the fact that in the romance every word, every sung syllable is emphasized by a corresponding note to it. That's why a professional musician can immediately tell whether a simple song sounds or it's a romance. Words, as a rule, are placed above the music text, and as a result they can be sung or played on some instrument, and then combine both processes.

What is a romance in the broad sense of the word

Their wide popularity these works received in the second half of the 18th century, and by the 19th century whole schools of romances were already formed. It happened because, firstly, the end of the 18th century is the Golden Period in Russian literature, and not less significant period of time in the history of the development of European art. In those years, such authors as Lermontov, Pushkin, Goethe, Fet and many others wrote their masterpieces. Their poems were so melodic that they became a text for musical works. Secondly, the romance gradually ceased to be considered exclusively a Spanish song about love and acquired a wider, secular significance. There were Russian romances written by such composers as Sviridov, Mussorgsky, Varlamov and so on. Along with them, German, French, Italian vocal and instrumental pieces arose, which were performed on secular parties and receptions.

Contemporary Romances

Today it's rare to hear a similar melody at any event, and even in the performance of a talented singer (or singer). However, every child who studies at a music school knows perfectly well what a romance is. Children who are gifted by nature with a beautiful voice and can speak to the public, always perform such works. As a rule, it is necessary to choose from the classics, so the students sing compositions written by Prokofiev, Glinka, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, verses of no less famous geniuses of the pen.