Melody in the Romantic era

Rich melodies are often seen as the very core of the Romantic style. Virtuoso soloists dazzled audiences with their unprecedented instrumental skills. Melodies became freer in form than in the Classical era, and the concepts of through-composed melody and unending melody emerged. The Leitmotif technique involves associating a particular melody or phrase with a particular thing that the music is describing, such as a character in an opera. Soaring melodies were often paired with rich, overwhelming accompaniment.

A good melody is one that you can whistle. – Johannes Brahms