Mozart Opera- MoF Overture

detailed flashcards

Purpose of overture

Used at beginning of the opera to evoke anticipation and excitement; representative of the fun atmosphere created by the opera.

Bars 1-28: excitement

Strings and bassoons- thin texture, monophonic 8ves

Melody: conjunct, auxiliary notes, irregular but arched phrasing, chromaticism (b4), melody is transposed to outline the tonic triad (D major)

Rhythm: constant quavers, crotchet rest- silence is anticipatory

b8-12: antiphonal exchange in woodwind, triadic (solidifies D major)

b12: tutti, essentially D major descending scale, ff

b19: repeat of idea 1, countermelody in woodwind

Bars 28-60: anticipation

Rising and falling melody continues- arched

b34: A major chord (no true modulation as no G#)

b34-35: Descending D major scale followed by descending E minor scale (both beginning on mediant), and then an A major scale to create sequence.

b41: ascending A minor scale with no G#s (essentially acting as dominant minor) with D tonic pedal beneath it.

b58-59: imperfect

Bars 60-85: contrasts and exciting passages

no cellos/double basses

fp dynamic contrasts

tremolo, parallel 3rds

melody: appoggiaturas, demi-semi quaver flourishes, constantly changing timbre

b67: perfect cadence

b75: dynamic contrasts

b77: Em, b79: Dm

b81: dominant pedal, rising sequences

bar 85-108

b85-87: irregular phrase feeling in strings (anacrusis start, bt2 end)

tonic pedal in winds

b91: F major (mixed modes- chromatic tinge- VI in Am)

b92: B7 (V7/V)
b96: thinner texture- monophonic 8ves in upper strings, antiphonal with woodwind and lower strings

b102: 8ves in violins

b103: 4-3, 9-8 suspensions, C major (mixed modes)

b104: N6th

b105: E7 (mixed modes), F major

b106: iib7-V, b107: chord I (perfect cadence)

Bars 108-138: Codetta

diatonic

Violin 1 and Bassoon in monophonic 8ves, triadic melody

tonic pedal in horn

Alberti bass in violin 2s

b133: A7- dominant pedal to prepare for return to D major