Defining the Romance of Music

Just what defines the depth of our feelings when we listen to music? Is it the melodies, the harmonies, the instrumentation or the vocal timbres? As a violin recording artist with a reputation for creating "romantic" music, I have wrestled with these questions for years. Indeed, whenever I am to produce another album I must chose the material to be recorded, the instrumentation, the tempos, rhythmic feel, etc. And these same questions arise.
Without going into all the whys and wherefores I have determined that it is the associations the listener has with the music that mostly matters. If a song (or large scale work) was heard in the context of the listener's "romantic" experience, then that piece will forever be among his/her favorite "romantic" music. For this same reason, natural sounds in our environment take on romantic connotations. If we enjoy a romantic episode to the roar of a surf, the howl of a train whistle, or the cry of the sea birds, then re-experiencing these sounds will cause our heart and mind to re-live those memories.
It's from these associations that I suppose we sometimes find ourselves saying,"Listen honey, they're playing our song!"