In chapters 20 to 23 of the book “History of Western Music” by Donald Jay Grout, we learn about the music of the Romantic era. This period was characterized by a focus on emotion and individual expression in music. Composers like Beethoven, Schubert, and Chopin created works that were deeply personal and often reflected their own struggles and experiences.

One of the key developments of the Romantic era was the rise of program music, which was music that told a story or depicted a scene or emotion. This was in contrast to the more abstract music of the Classical era. Composers like Berlioz and Liszt were particularly known for their programmatic works.

Another important development was the expansion of the orchestra, which allowed composers to create more complex and varied sounds. This led to the creation of new genres like the symphonic poem, which was a single-movement work for orchestra that told a story or depicted a scene.

Overall, the Romantic era was a time of great innovation and creativity in music. Its focus on emotion and individual expression paved the way for the modern era of music that we know today.