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An Analysis of Mendelssohns Overture to Shakespeare's Mid Summer Nights Dream. Mendelssohns Mid Summer Nights Dream is written in sonata form. It has the attributes of sonata form having an Exposition, Development, Recapitulation, and Coda. Mendelssohns piece has 2 subjects and within each subject he has 2 themes. Each of the themes represents a certain area of the play.
For example Subject 1 theme 1 represents the fairies Subject 1 theme 2 represents the Duke the lovers theme is in the 2 nd subject and the 2 nd subject theme 2 is Bergomask's tune. This piece is set in the key of E major which will allow it to modulate to B major the dominant, E minor which is the tonic minor and C# the relative minor however the piece never makes a significant move to this key. Introduction The introduction is very small and sets the theme of the whole piece. Mendelssohn use magic chords...
which sound very magical and set the scene and mood for the first subject theme 1, the fairy theme. These chords sound magical because some of the chords and diminished and others are inverted to create that magical effect. Exposition The Exposition is in E minor and is known as the fairy theme. This theme has very fast quavers played by the 1 st and 2 nd violins. The fairy theme is a combination of plucked and bowed strings, with a very close harmonic interval. The speed is very fast and all of the string section is playing quite high.
At bar 62 the piece move into the 1 st subject 2 nd theme in E major is the Dukes theme as and the whole orchestra is playing. This theme of a consists scale based pattern in octaves in the violins and a massive homophonic texture due the orchestral tutti. At bar 90 the fairy theme returns and as the story continues the mortals and fairies are mixing. At this section the lower brass strings sustain a tonic pedal note while the Strings produce a pedal note but in a crochet quaver rhythm. However at bar 130 the music modulates to the key of B major the music is very romantic.
This is the second subject theme 1 and it is a very lyrical and increases in texture to represent love as depth and power. This theme has features small fan fare interjections which could represent Duke. The 2 nd subject theme 2 starts at bar 194 and it very robust as a represents Bergomasks and is also known as Bergomask's theme. This theme is in B major and is far from subtle with double pedal notes on the dominant and tonic while the violins are making large leaps of 9 ths and 10 ths to make the eh-oh noise of the donkey in the play. There is a short coretta at the end of this subject between bars 222 and 249 with a herald reprise of Subject Theme 2 which is now in the key of B major. Development The development starts at bar 250 in the B major still with the initial quaver theme from the 1 st divided between the violins with sparse interjection from the woodwind.
The development is mainly on the fairy theme as it keeps showing up throughout the development. However at bar 270 the 1 st subject reappears in the key of F# minor only for the horns to break this quiet atmosphere at bar 294. The loud horns represent Bergomasks as his theme was very loud robust and sudden. Although this theme was loud in this development the fairy theme still manages to return reaching the key of D major. This section of music could represent the fairies up to there scams and cunning plans and are stopped by the king but when he goes they return to there scams and cunning plans. Now the lovers theme is developed this lyrical 2 nd subject theme returns shortly on car 362 leading to a C# minor chord at bar 394 to mark the relative minor.
In the development he divides the parts more equally; he has lowered the piece by a semi tone. There is no continuous playing in any parts. The violas only have more significant part and therefore defining the fairy theme. Recapitulation The recapitulation starts the same the whole piece starts off. However this time the major 3 rd opening is supported by the C# minor chord played by the strings giving it a new dimension. This in relation to the play could mean that the fairy king and queen have sorted out there disagreements and are on speaking terms.
However it could also be a summary of the whole play so hat people dont forget it.
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Research essay sample on Nights Dream Sonata Form
