What is a proto-romantic?

Answer 1

In, Proto-Romantic usually refers to the generation of musicians between the Classical era (Mozart, Haydn) and the Romantic Era (Schumann, Mendelssohn). Some Proto-romantic composers are Czerny and Hummel. Chopin and Beethoven both fit the time period, but no one typically calls them by that term because they are both so famous on their own. In that sense, proto-romantic usually refers to the lesser composers that were writing in the very early part of the 19th century.