Die Zauberflöte - No 4 & No 5 Flashcards
Info on No 4 'O zittre nicht' No 5 (quintet: Hm! Hm! Hm! Hm!) From Act 1 of Die Zauberflöte
What type of work is this?
- Classical period opera
* Singspiel - in German, spoken dialogue instead of recitative between arias, choruses and ensemble numbers.
What is the recitative reserved for?
More dramatic moments!
When was this first performed?
30th September, 1791
What ideals of the 18th century does the story include?
Freemasonry and enlightenment
What does the opera require (in terms of general performers)?
- Vocal soloists
- Chorus
- Orchestra
What happens in No 4? (Story)
Queen of the Night commands Tamimo to rescue Pamina from the ‘evil’ Sarastro?
What happens in No 5? (Story)
- Papageno gagged by the Queen of The Night’s Three Ladies because of lying.
- After being freed, Papageno and Tamino are sent to rescue Pamina.
- They are gifted a magic flute and magic bells, guided by the three boys.
Who are the soloists- character and range?
•Queen of The Night - Coloratura soprano •Tamino - Tenor •Papageno - Baritone •The Three Ladies - Sopranos --> They have separate homophonic parts (excluding bar 287, where ladies 1 and 2 double at the unison)
What parts of the orchestra are needed for No 4 and No 5?
Only a small part of the orchestra- •2 Oboes •2 bassoons •2 horns in Bb •Strings ▪+Clarinet for No 5
What string technique is used in No 5 and at which bar is it used?
Pizzicato at the Andante - bar 214
What is the notation for the singspiel?
•Presented as a vocal score with a line for each vocalist
▪Exception of the Three Ladies, where ladies 1 and 2 share a stave.
What language is used for markings?
•Italian terms are used for the tempos and usual dynamic markings are used (but very rare) in vocal parts.
▪For example, No 5 bars 192-203
•’Sotto voce’ (under the voice) indicated for the Three Ladies at bar 184 in No 5
•German terms and abbreviations are used for the instruments
◇Br - Bratsche (violas)
◇Bläs - Bläser (wind)
What are the tempos of Nos 4 and 5?
Both numbers have tempo contrasts
No 4
•Allegro maestoso》Larghetto》Allegro Moderato
No 5
•Allegro》Moderato
What are the metres of Nos 4 and 5?
Both numbers have metre changes.
No 4
•Simple quadruple> for two allegro sections
•Simple triple> larghetto
No 5
•’Cut common time’ - fast 2/2
•Relaxed quadruple > moderato
What are the rhythmic features of both numbers?
•No 4 - syncopation in intro
•’free time’ delivery in recitative bit
•Frequent dotted rhythms
•Rapid dramatic flourishes
▪semi quaver triplets in Allegro Moderato (62-63)
•Virtuosic streams of semiquavers (e.g. No 4 79-92)
What is the vocal range of the Queen of the Night in the recitative and aria?
Wide
▪D above middle C - F
▪2 Octaves and 1/3 apart
What are the melodic features of the two numbers?
•Falling diminished 7th and typical recitative closing formula 》Last bar of No 4
•Unusual phrase structure at start of aria
》3+3+2+2 bars
•Ornamentation and appogiaturas intensify power of expression
•Sequence》No 4 , bars 28-31
•Chromatic descent 》 No 4 , bars 41-43 for PATHOS
•Frequent rapidly moving scales 》No 4, Allegro Moderato
What is the word setting in the two numbers?
• mixture of melisma, syllabic and neumatic.
What is the melody marked by in No 5?
- Periodic phrasing
- Generally diatonic writing
- Repeated notes
What are the harmonic features of the two works?
•Functional harmony
•Clearly defined perfect and imperfect cadences
•Interrupted cadences (e.g. No 4 bars 55-56)
•Neapolitan 6th (No 4 bar 19)
–> Followed by diminished 7th in bar 20
•Tonic pedal (No 4 , opening)
•Augmented 6th chord (No 5, bar 150)
What is the tonality of both works?
- Bb major
- Modulation to related keys
- Key typically shaped and stengthened by perfect cadences.
What and where are the modulations in No 4?
Bb》Gm (bar 21) 》 Cm (bar 38)
tonic 》 relative minor》 IV of rm
What and where are the modulations in No 5?
Bb》 F (bar 34) 》 Dm (142) 》 Eb (172)
I》V》Rm of V》IV
What is the structure of No 4?
•Recitative
•Aria (orchestrally accompanied)
▪2 sections used to reflect dramatic situation
◇ Section 1
》Largo - sorrow at loss of Pamina and condemnation of Sarastro
◇Section 2
》Allegro Moderato- Tamino commanded to rescue Pamina
What is the structure of No 5?
No 5 is a through composed ensemble number
-clearly differentiated sections reflecting course of action
What are the textures in the two numbers?
- Mainly melody dominated homophony
- Homophony (Homorhythm)》 No 5 bars 47-77
- Octaves 》 No 5 bars 61-64