Lesson 9: Richard Wagner

Lesson 9: Richard Wagner

One of the notable composers from the late Romantic period, Richard Wagner is known for his opera works. His work took the opera form to new levels, with longer works and greater emphasis on the instrumental music. He is also a controversial figure both during his lifetime and after. He was outspoken about music and politics, lived in political exile, and spent time on the run from creditors.

Richard Wagner (pronounced 'vahg ner') was born in 1813 in Germany. He quickly became interested in drama, theater, and acting. It wasn't until Wagner was in his teens that he became interested in music. He composed his first opera by the age of twenty-two. His vision of the opera was of a musical drama, in which the music, text, and design were all equally prominent and in unity with one another. Unlike many opera composers, Wagner wrote not only the music of his operas, but also the texts. He died in 1883 after a heart attack.

Wagner's music is frequently characterized by both its size and power. His operas were often written to be performed over the course of an afternoon and evening, with breaks in between for eating. He often included very large orchestras and choirs in his works. He also used a great deal of chromaticism, making the harmony challenging. His work would have a great deal of influence over the evolution of music in the twentieth century, and pieces of his work have been used in various areas of popular culture, including a Bugs Bunny cartoon.