<P> In the Romantic period , music became more expressive and emotional , expanding to encompass literary , artistic , and philosophical themes . Famous early Romantic composers include Beethoven ( whose works span both this period and the preceding Classical period ) , Schubert , Schumann , Chopin , Mendelssohn , Bellini , and Berlioz . The late 19th century saw a dramatic expansion in the size of the orchestra and in the dynamic range and diversity of instruments used in this ensemble . Also , public concerts became a key part of urban middle class society , in contrast to earlier periods , when concerts were mainly paid for by and performed for aristocrats . Famous composers from the second half of the century include Bruckner , Johann Strauss II , Brahms , Liszt , Tchaikovsky , Dvořák , Verdi , and Wagner . Between 1890 and 1910 , a third wave of composers including Mahler , Richard Strauss , Puccini , and Sibelius built on the work of middle Romantic composers to create even more complex -- and often much longer -- musical works . A prominent mark of late 19th century music is its nationalistic fervor , as exemplified by such figures as Dvořák , Sibelius , and Grieg . Other prominent late - century figures include Saint - Saëns , Fauré , Rachmaninoff and Franck . </P>
how did orchestra change in the romantic period
a dramatic expansion in the size of the orchestra and in the dynamic range and diversity of instruments used in this ensemble