The Importance of Music during the Romantic Era

As many of us understand, music has an immense impact on our lives from our alarm clocks in the morning, to the connections we have to others with the same taste, to the movies we watch, to walking down the aisle to the person we spend our lives with and having that be “your song” forever. The Romantic Era was a breakthrough period for many composers and musical performers during this period. The image that I selected was by Henryk Siemiradzki and was named Chopin Concert.

Bastille

Created in the 1390s, the Bastille was originally a medieval fortress used for defense against English invasions. The Bastille was quickly turned into a state prison and by the reign of Louis XIV, the former fortress was being used regularly to hold political enemies, writers, religious dissenters, and anyone who happened to irritate the king. The Bastille became a symbol of tyranny and nobility to many in the late 18th century. On July 14, 1789, amidst growing levels of unrest across France, the Bastille stormed by revolutions who executed the prison governor.

Osterely Park Mansion

A famous Neoclassical architecture in Palladian style. It consists of a ballustrade, vertical supports along the roof. Also known as "blausters" or "spindles." It is a common method during the Romantic Era to crown a building with a low-lying roof. 

Pyrenees Mountains

The Pyrenees are a mountain range that separates France from Spain. The mountain range spans 305 miles and is older than the Alps.

Emily and her father, along with Valancourt, travel along the Pyrenees mountain range. These mountains are visible from the St. Aubert's home in La Vallee, and Emily holds great love for them. St. Aubert calls them "those distant and sublime mountains." 

Venice

Now under the control of Montoni, Emily and her aunt live for a while in Venice. There she experiences a vibrant musical culture and gets the first glimpse into Montoni's schemes.

Venice is known for its canals---in fact there are no cars there! So, just like Emily, you can take a gondola through the city.

Eastbourne, England

Eastbourne is located in the southeastern coast of England.  This resort town grew rapidly from 1851 to 1891 which increased from 4,000 to 35,000.  In The Romance of a Shop this town is mentioned on two seperate occasions.  First in Chapter 11, when it mentions that Phyllis took a trip there and stayed three weeks.  Which was stated that it did not seem to do her any good; this was referring to her health problems, and saying that the trip to the southern city did not do anything to improve these problems.

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