Ondes martenot, perhaps.

Best regards, Dr

 

Theremin, everytime! haha

 

Stringed ones.

 

If you're thinking romantic in terms of intimacy with the instrument, the saxophone is very romantic: it isn't so much held as carressed, and it doesn't work until you bring it to your lips.

 

In those terms the bagpipes are even more romantic, you hug and squeeze it and make it moan.

 

I gauged my decision with several factors. 1) Instruments like Flute, Bassoon, and Oboe have a long history before the romantic era, thus they have a strong reputation with the baroque and classical eras. Flute was pretty much abandoned as a solo instrument in the 19th century, and I imagine other winds too.
2) I find wind instruments to be the most human of all instruments. They live and breath, literally. Thus, they can express more human emotions, imo, because of the kind of physical limitations they have. Being closer to the human voice, wind instruments they are like that.
3) The clarinet is a relatively young instrument, and its solo repertoire is rich during the early, middle, and late romantic eras, more than most other winds (by that I don't just mean solo repertoire, I include orchestral excerpts) The Rach Symphony no. 2 for crying out loud!

Thus,

I voted clarinet.

 

I think the most romantic instruments are those who make sounds similar to human voice. My favorite is oboe, many composers use it for expressive melodies. Here an example in Beethoven's fifth symphony (5:05)

 

The guitar is the instrument "held closest to the heart."

Unless you're Jimmy Page. Then it's held closest elsewhere.

 

The most romantic instrument is clearly the Wagner Tuba.

 

Classical guitar (or just guitar, but no shredder allowed )
It's the most intimate instrument - very quiet, can be extremely soft -, it can be played anywhere and solo because it's a polyphonic instrument, and it's, like the lute, very often associated with intimacy.
I think that's really one of the strong point of this instrument - what it lacks in sheer power, it compensates in charm and intimism.

BUT if by romantic you mean with the best romantic repertoire it's the piano, no doubt.

 

Tromboon.

Oh, you said "romantic," not "Romantic." Piano, then. Composers always write music for their girlfriends on a piano.

 

Composers always write music for their girlfriends on a piano.

That reminds me, I wrote a piece for my wife for the piano. Trouble is, I can't play it. I discovered that women aren't impressed by black notes scribbled on music paper.

 

Bagpipes, people used to elope to Gretna Green in Scotland to get married.

 

the duckcall

 

If I had a girlfriend, I would probably write music for her at the piano :3

 

The Trombone.

Maestro Kaplin learns the hard way that the phrase "Would you please play that part louder" is never to be spoken to the trombone section!

 

Considering original romantic movement's fondness of nature and it's forces, the most romantic instrument may be flute with it's clear, natural sound that distinguishes it among woodwinds: clarinet and bassoon have more meretricious sound, flute happens to sound like bare wind singing somewhere between trees and mountains. Too bad that early XIXth century composers didn't use that potential in full.

Instrumental introduction to this aria with solo flute may give you the idea:

Woe to those that think "romantic" means something that you can pick up highschool girls with.

 

That's lovely Aramis! Thank you for being a proponent of the flute.

 

The guitar wins for me, based on its sound, but a very romantic instrument most of us wouldn't think of is the bandoneon. If you want to express subtle romantic feelings - say, nostalgia for a lost love, mixed with a wish for her to be happy, mixed with painful regret at your behavior towards her, mixed with acceptance of your loss - the bandoneon can do it.

 

Electric guitar , Violin specially.
Start listening from 0:41, Yngwie really has the best guitar vibrato i have heard.

 

The human voice. Other instruments basically emulate this.

 

The Grand Piano. Btw are we talking about Romanticism here? Electric guitar would win if we talking just about the mood. Though Piano would probably be second for the atmosphere. Saxophone as well.

 

Boston is the most Romantic band imo. Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me).

 

I went with piano....though I may be biased due to my own love affair with the instrument. If someone argued violin, I'd be hard pressed to disagree, however.

I have to say though, this is a wonderful discussion thread. The responses are interesting, engaging, and witty. Rather than devolving into heated discussion over why someone else's choice is wrong, everyone seems to be giving very good and enjoyable responses championing their particular choice :clap:

 

For me it would probably be piano or accordion, or electric bass or guitar. :3

If only some handsome knight would show up in my life playing a romantic serenade for me~ *daydreams*

 

I don't have shiny armor, darn it!:lol:

 

Odd question. Instruments are only vehicles for expression. I've never thought of one being more romantic than another.

 

Colors, dynamics etc..
Timbre .

 

Don't forget lyrics...

 

Don't forget lyrics...

Someone should admonish Ms. Sampson that she's having too much fun. This is classical music, you know!

 

Funny how voice is not considered an instrument

Therefore i cannot vote.

 

Actually, you certainly can. "Other" Although you make a good point that it's viable option for the poll question

 

Actually, i dislike more the fact one can mark Voice as other.

For me voice is and always will be above all instruments in Nature (wether made by Man or other animals).