How Nationalism Changed Classical Music Forever (1848 Explained)

Added: 2026-05-24

[00:00:00]Germany dominated European music from the 17th to the 19th centuries. That is, until it was challenged in 1848.

[00:00:09]Nations of Europe looked on Germany as the pinnacle of universal art. Germany spoke for all Europe.

[00:00:19]In 1848, Austrian empire oppression and famine ignited a massive wave of uprisings that spread across Europe.

[00:00:28]Often called the Springtime of Nations, a revolution spread calling for political freedom, independence, and social reform. Czechs, Hungarians, Croats, and Italians cried for constitutional and their personal rights. Peasants took to the streets.

[00:00:47]Protests broke out. Several composers joined in at the risk of imprisonment or worse.

[00:00:55]The revolutionary spirit inspired composers to turn to their own nations' histories, ethnic myths, and folk traditions. Composers created their own national musical languages. They rejected German models of symphonies and operas. Some composers then turned to short works of folk dances. Others used large-scale operas to express their legends, dances, and hopes. Chopin composed Polish mazurkas and polonaises.

[00:01:25]Smetana used the single-movement symphonic poem to celebrate Czech landscapes and legends.

[00:01:33]Dvořák's From the New World Symphony was inspired by spirituals and Native American melodies. Russian nationalism began with Mikhail Glinka, who made peasants true heroes in his operas. In place of German serious music, national composers wrote descriptive, highly colorful, and hopeful music. The national movement weakened Germany's claim to cultural authority.

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