Die Zauberflote Mozart Flashcards
Die Zauberflote - Context ?
> Classical period opera
Singspiel - German opera with spoken dialogue in place of the recitative - Recitative reserved for more dramatic moments like no.4
First performed 1791
Fantasy tale incorporating 18th century enlightenment and freemasonry (3)
> Requires 4 vocalists and orchestra
No. 4 - Queen of the night demands hereto Tamino to rescue her daughter Pamina from the evil high priest
No.5 - Pagageno struggles with a gag placed on him by the queens attendants for lying - once free him and Tamino go on their mission
Die Zauberflote - Sonority ?
> Soloists
- Queen of the night - high coloratura soprano
- Tamino - tenor
- Papageno - baritone
- 3 ladies - sopranos ( sing in homophony)
No.4
>only part of the orchestra- 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns in Bb + stings
No.5
> same as no.4 plus clarinets
>pizzicato used in the Andante section bar 214
Die Zauberflote- Notation ?
> vocal score - individual lines for each except 1st and 2nd ladies share
> Italian terms for the tempo even though in German
> Soto voce No.5 b 184
Die Zauberflote- Tempo rhythm and metre?
> both contain tempo contrasts
- no.4 - allegro maestoso - larghetto - allegro moderato
- no.5 - allegro - moderato
> Metres change in both
- no.4 - 4/4 for 2 allegro sections and 3/4 for the larghetto
- no.5 -cut common time - relaxes 4/4 in moderato section
Rhythmic features
- frequent dotted rhythms
- rubato in recitative section
> NO.4
- syncopation in orchestral intro
- rapid dramatic flourishes - triplet semiquavers in allegro moderato (virtuosic)
Die Zauberflote- Melody ?
> Vocal tessitura in Queen of the Night no.4 D(c>) to F 2 octaves higher
> Melody in Quintet no.5 marked by periodic phrasing, generally diatonic writing + repeated notes
> Word setting is a mix of syllabic and melisma - ornamentation and appoggiaturas intensify expressive power
> No.4
- falling diminished 7th (typical closing formula of recitatives
- Start - unusual phrasing 3+3+2+2
- chromatic descents b.41-43
- melody of allegro- frequent rapid moving scales
Die Zauberflote - Harmony ?
> Functional- clear perfect and imperfect cadence points - No.4 interrupted cadence b.55-56
> Tonic pedal opening No.4
> Chords of No.4
- Neapolitan 6th b.19
- Diminished 7th b.20
- Appoggiatura chord b.52
- suspensions rare b.66
> No.5 - augmented 6th chord b.150
Die Zauberflote - Tonality ?
> both in Bb major and modulate to related keys
> No.4
- G minor b.21
- C minor b.38
> No.5
- F major b.34
- D minor b.142
- Eb major b.172
Die Zauberflote - Structure ?
> No.4 - recitative and aria (recitative accompanied by orchestra - normally unaccompanied but singspiel accompanied for scenes requiring heightened expression)
> No.4 - aria in 2 sections - reflects developing dramatic situation
- )Largo - Queen of the night expresses sorrow for loss of daughter to Sarastro
- )Allegro moderato - Tamino commanded to rescue Pamina
> No.5 - through composed ensemble number - clearly differentiated sections that reflect the course of action
Die Zauberflote - Texture?
> Mainly melody dominated homophony
> No.5
- homophonic+homorhythmic b.74-77
- octaves b.61-64
Die Zauberflote - Wider listening ?
> Beethoven’s Fidelio is an example of a Singspiel (late classical early romantic)
> Mozart Don Giovanni - opera in which all sections are sung
- Atto primo Scena Terza = recit +aria
> Casta Diva - Bellini’s opera Norma - high vocal tessitatura (classical) Norma sings a prayer to the moon goddess asking for peace
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