Final answer:
Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique is emblematic of Romantic music due to its expansive emotional range, innovative orchestration, and programmatic elements that break away from Classical era constraints, all while remaining influenced by traditional Classical forms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique is a good example of Romantic music because it encompasses the emotional expressiveness, the breaking of Classical form constraints, and the innovative orchestration that characterize the Romantic era. The work employs a wide emotional range, including passages of anger and passion, but also of pleasure and joy. Berlioz was known for pushing the boundaries of music, and with the Symphonie fantastique, he challenged the audience's expectations by exploring new orchestral sounds and programmatic storytelling, which was a departure from the Classical emphasis on structured melodies and harmonies.
Romantic composers were influenced by the Classical traditions laid by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, but they expanded upon these foundations, emphasizing emotional depth and individualism in their compositions. Berlioz's use of a programmatic theme—the depiction of an artist's unrequited love and the consequent descent into despair and fantasy—exemplifies the Romantic preoccupation with personal expression and narrative. His innovative symphony featured an idée fixe, a recurring musical theme that represents the object of the artist's affection, illustrating the Romantic focus on thematic unity within a personal context.