A study of compositional procedures in selected opera overtures (1791-1821).
Item
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Title
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A study of compositional procedures in selected opera overtures (1791-1821).
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Identifier
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AAI9510626
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identifier
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9510626
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Creator
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Ardito, Linda.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Henry Burnett
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Date
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1994
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Music
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Abstract
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The thirty year period between 1791 and 1821 represents a crucial transitional phase in music history and composition from Classicism to Romanticism. The opera overture, in particular, introduced many compositional innovations and therefore represented one of the most significant and influential symphonic genres of the time. Cherubini and Spontini in Paris and Weber in Germany were primary composers in this genre and each were highly regarded by their contemporaries. Despite this fact, their operas are, for the most part, currently ignored or underrated both in scholarship and in performance. This remains true even for their most popular operatic overtures, Lodoiska, La Vestale, and Der Freischutz, respectively, for which no critical musical analyses exist.;This dissertation focuses specifically upon the overtures mentioned above. Each of these three overtures, Lodoiska, Vestale, and Freischutz, is analyzed and discussed in terms of innovations in compositional procedure with respect to the treatment of sonata form and the role of melody. From this, two important observations can be made. First, traditional interpretations of the "sonata principle" require a reassessment, and, secondly, related to this, there arises the need to re-evaluate what constitutes dynamic and static elements in music.;An historical background on the general impact of operatic overtures in Post-Revolutionary times and a comparison of classical and romantic compositional approaches with respect to sonata form is also given.;In addition, an entire chapter is given over to Christoph Willibald Gluck's development of the overture through his reforms. Many of these innovations contributed vitally to the transitional phase that ushered in musical romanticism. There is also a musical analysis of Gluck's Alceste overture since it is the first of his overtures to truly reflect his reform ideals.;Gluck's influence appears in the works of Cherubini, Spontini, and Weber. All three composers knew each other and each other's musical works. Their compositions occupy an important place in operatic history and in music history in general. Indeed, Cherubini's Lodoiska, Spontini's La Vestale, and Weber's Der Freischutz become innovative and important models of composition.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
