Mozart Flashcards
What is a singspiel?
Form of German opera - with both singing and spoken dialogue
What happens in No.4?
The grief-striken queen addresses Tamino - He must rescue Pamina. If successful Pamina will be his
What happens in No.5?
Tamino is unable to free Papageno from padlocks that the 3 ladies had put on his mouth
They release him
Give Tamino the magic flute
Papageno will accompany Tamino - given silver bells
Three boys guide them on their journey
What is the tonic of No.4 and No.5?
Bb major
What key is the aria in?
Gm, ends in Bb major
How does the piece modulate to Gm?
Via F
How does the recitative end?
Tonic to dominant (G-D) followed by a perfect cadence - A typical conclusion
Name all the keys in No.4
Gm, Bb, Cm, Eb
What key does No.5 end in?
Bb
Why is No.5 an ensemble?
It is a piece for more than two soloists
Name all the keys in No.5
Bb, F, Gm, Dm, Eb
How many singers are there?
5
What is the form of No.4?
Binary
Intro - Larghetto - Allegro
What is the form of No.5?
There is no overall form, through composed with 5 main sections
Briefly describe the vocal lines in No.5
Simple and mostly diatonic with limited ranges and stepwise movement. There are a lot of repeated notes and small leaps
Is there any chromaticism?
Yes - expressing farewell
What is the singer doubled by?
The orchestra
How are No.4 melody lines different?
They are far more adventurous in range and style and rhythmic diversity
What happens during the virtuosic solo?
A lot of leaps (wide/difficult)
Give an exampled of a leap
Top F to the C
What establishes the key change in No.4?
Triadic shape
What provides rhythmic motion?
Repeated accompaniment
What type of harmony does Mozart use?
Functional harmony
What cadences does Mozart use?
Frequent perfect and some imperfect
What delaying tactic does Mozart use?
Interrupted cadences instead of perfect
What interesting chords does Mozart use?
The Neapolitan 6th
How does Mozart create harmonic tension?
Diminished 7ths and appoggiaturas
What happens at the end of the aria?
Series of perfect cadences
What is special about the Soprano in No.4?
Coloratura soprano - very high range, extended melismatic display
Why is Tamino a tenor?
It is the conventional voice of a hero
What is No.4 scored for?
Two bassoons Two oboes Two Bb horns Strings No flutes, clarinets, trumpets, trombones or timpanis
What is the scoring for No.5?
Same as No.4 until the Andante where the clarinets enter
What is the irony in the name ‘the magic flute?’
Flute is never played
What is the texture?
Mainly homophonic, as the melody stands out from the rest of the accompaniment
How does Mozart get clear projection of the text?
Same rhythm against an independent orchestral part
Why are contrapuntal textures avoided in No.5?
It is unsuitable for the light comic nature of the piece
Does Mozart use Heterophony?
yes
How does Mozart create Heterophony?
Chromatic melody under the solo line. First violas double the vocals with semiquavers providing additional movement in a slowish tempo
What are the mos common dynamic markings in No.4and5?
F or P or Cresc
Also find Fp and Sf
What dynamics aren’t indicated?
Extremes e.g ff/pp
How else can dynamics be created?
By the addition or subtraction of orchestral forces
What was expected of the singer?
To choose appropriate dynamics
What does sotto voice mean?
Under the voice
What is the tempo marking at the start of No.4?
Allegro Maestoso
What is the recitative marked?
Free tempo made by the singer
What is the metre of No.4?
3/4 then 4/4 in Larghetto
What is the time sig. of No.5?
cut common time, 2 minim beats per bar
What is the time sig of the Andante in No.5?
4/4
How does Mozart add tension?
offbeat quavers against onbeat crotchets
Give three examples of rhythmic diversity
semiquavers in melisma
Minims to emphasise ‘helft’ (help)
Tied note to emphasise first syllables
Is there any syncopation?
Yes, in No.5
What chord is prominent during sotto voce No.5?
C7 chord
Dominant 7th second inversion
What chord sequence defines the Andante No.5?
I, Vb, VI, IIIb, IV, Ib, Viib, I, V
Che faro sensa euridice composer
Gluck
opera reformer
simpler with text more important
Che faro melody
regular - 4 bar phrases
very syllabic - grief
not as virtuosic
recitative like
Che faro Sonority
just strings - grief
no extreme pitches
mf
Che faro key
C major
G major
Che faro harmony
Functional Dissonance - 5,7-1 over tonic chromatic word painting Dim 7ths 4-3 suspension
Che faro structure
A-B-A
with intro and coda
Che faro texture
melody doubled in violins
Mel-dom-hom
Che faro tempo/metre/rhythm
2/2
constant quavers in strings
Slow Andante
Something’s coming
1957 West Side Story Tenor fast syncopation and cross-rhythms tremolo and harmonics emphasis on clarinets homophonic syllabic tritones accented notes short phrases
Che faro sensa euridice composer
Gluck
opera reformer
simpler with text more important
Che faro melody
regular - 4 bar phrases
very syllabic - grief
not as virtuosic
recitative like
Che faro Sonority
just strings - grief
no extreme pitches
mf
Che faro key
C major
G major
Che faro harmony
Functional Dissonance - 5,7-1 over tonic chromatic word painting Dim 7ths 4-3 suspension
Che faro structure
A-B-A
with intro and coda
Che faro texture
melody doubled in violins
Mel-dom-hom
Che faro tempo/metre/rhythm
2/2
constant quavers in strings
Slow Andante
Something’s coming
1957 West Side Story Tenor fast syncopation and cross-rhythms tremolo and harmonics emphasis on clarinets homophonic syllabic tritones accented notes short phrases
comparisons
Queen of the night aria Fidelio Carmen Figaro Ride of the Valkyries Orfeo e le Furie La donna e mobile Purcell
context
September 30th 1791
Year of his death (5th December)
Vienna
Singspiel
Breaks traditions of operas for the rich which were in Italian and told stories of Greek mythology
Freemasons = number 3
Mozart was a genius at portraying human characterisations and real emotions as seen in the musical elements
