The word "romance" has a long history that started many years ago. In Spain, it was first used to describe stories sung in a special way. By the 1700s, the word was also used for simple songs that could be sung or played on instruments alone. The Oxford Dictionary of Music says that "romance" usually means a song that feels very personal or gentle.

Instrumental music bearing the title "Romance"

A Classical music piece or movement called a "Romance" is usually written in 3/4 time, meaning there are three beats in each measure.

Examples of compositions titled "Romance" or similar include:
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Two violin romances (Romanzen) for violin and orchestra, No. 1 in G major, Op. 40; No. 2 in F major, Op. 50, which follow a loose theme and variations structure.
• Johannes Brahms: Romanze in F major for piano, Op. 118, No. 5 (1893).
• Max Bruch: "Romance for Viola and Orchestra in F."
• Arthur Butterworth: Romanza for horn and string quartet with double bass ad libitum (or piano), Op. 12 (1951).
• Antonín Dvořák: Romance in F minor for violin and orchestra, Op. 11 (1873/1877).
• Edward Elgar: Romance for bassoon and orchestra, Op. 62 (1910), Enigma Variation XIII (Romanza: Moderato).
• Edvard Grieg: String Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 27 (1878), second movement.
• Erich Wolfgang Korngold: Romance from Concerto for violin and orchestra, second movement.
• Miguel Llobet: Romanza.
• Nikolai Medtner: Piano Sonata "Romantica" in B-flat minor, Op. 53, No. 1 (1929/1930), first movement.
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Romanze from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, second movement; Piano Concerto No. 20, second movement.
• Joseph Haydn: "Romance: Allegretto" from Symphony No. 85 in B ♭, "La Reine," second movement.
• Romanza (Paganini-Ponce).
• Camille Saint-Saëns: Romance in E major for cello and piano, from Suite for Cello and Piano Op. 16 (1862), later published as Op. 67 in 1866 as a standalone work for horn or cello and piano; Romance in F major for horn (or cello) and orchestra, Op. 36 (1874); Romance in D-flat major for flute and piano (or orchestra), Op. 37 (1871); Romance in D major for cello and orchestra, Op. 51 (1877).
• Clara Schumann: Drei Romanzen for violin and piano, Op. 22 (1853).
• Robert Schumann: Drei Romanzen (for piano), Op. 28 (1839); Drei Romanzen (for oboe or violin and piano), Op. 94 (1849).
• Dmitri Shostakovich: Romance from The Gadfly Suite.
• Jean Sibelius: Romances for piano, Op. 24, Nos. 2, 5, and 9; Op. 78, No. 2.
• Johan Svendsen: Romance for violin and orchestra, Op. 26 (1881).
• Ralph Vaughan Williams: Romanza from his Tuba Concerto (1954); Romance for viola and piano (unknown).
• Anonymous: "Romance/Romanza" for classical guitar, also known as Spanish Romance, Romance D'Amour, etc.

Mozart subtitled the second movement of his Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor (K.466) "Romanze" and the second movement of his Third Horn Concerto "Romance."

Franz Liszt composed a Romance in E minor in 1842 in Moscow.

Robert Schumann often used the title "Romance" for lyrical piano pieces.

Georges Bizet labeled "Je crois entendre encore" from The Pearl Fishers (1863) as a "romance" in the score.

Giuseppe Verdi titled "Celeste Aida" from Aida (1871) as a "romanza."

Franz Lehar labeled "Wie einen Rosenknospe" from The Merry Widow as a "Romance."

Works with voice parts

• Lieder by Franz Schubert: Work number D 114, "Romanze" ['Ein Fräulein klagt’ im finstern Turm'] for voice and piano (1814; 2 versions). Work number D 144, "Romanze" ['In der Väter Hallen ruhte'] for voice and piano (1816, sketch). Work number D 222, "Lieb Minna" ['Schwüler Hauch weht mir herüber'] for voice and piano (1815, also appears as "Lieb Minna. Romanze"). Work number D 907, "Romanze des Richard Löwenherz" ['Großer Taten tat der Ritter fern im heiligen Lande viel'] for voice and piano (1826?, two versions, 2nd version is Op. 86). "Romanze," No. 3b from Schubert's Rosamunde
• Wilhelm Killmayer: Romanzen (1954)

Romances sans paroles

Many composers in the French tradition began writing "Romances without Words" starting in the 1840s. Later, the poet Paul Verlaine published a collection of his poems titled Romances sans paroles in 1874.

Russian romance

In the 19th century, composers Alexander Alyabyev (1787–1851), Alexander Varlamov (1801–48), and Alexander Gurilyov (1803–58) helped create a style of music called the French variety of the romance, which became a type of Russian art song that expresses deep emotions. "Black Eyes" is one of the most famous examples. Other well-known Russian romances include "Shine, Shine, My Star" and "Along the Long Road."

British singer Marc Almond is the only Western artist who has received praise in both Western Europe and Russia for performing English versions of Russian romances and Russian chanson on his albums Heart on Snow and Orpheus in Exile.