Analysis Of Prelude To Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg

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The orchestra began with the first piece called Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg which was composed by Richard Wagner and presented in the year 1868. The piece begins with a crescendo piano and strings. The opening bars represent the motive of the Meistersinger (Mastersinger) themselves of the 16th century Nurnberg. The piece starts with main them of the Meistersingers themselves, which can be heard throughout the piece. The beginning creates an atmosphere of peace and a feeling of happiness. The piece was scored for following instruments: one piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, cymbals and strings including 1st and second violins, violas, cellos and double basses. After the powerful opening ends, the oboe, flute and the clarinet offer a musical theme representing the character Walter, a stranger who has appeared in Nurnberg. This piece is quickly joined by strings and soon the whole orchestra to make grand and spectacular marching-like music. This ends to reveal a soft and swift music which created an atmosphere of calm and sereneness. The second part of the Prelude begins with a fugal distortion of the Meistersinger theme. This part is made from wind instruments with the strings adding a humorous tinge and other similar effects. The third part begins with the brasses combining to with soon with the orchestra to create a grandiose march-like effect again. Wagner’s sense of humor is apparent in his use of instruments to represents parts which help create an atmosphere of comedy adding much laughter to the piece without ever listening or seeing the play. The music stand alone by itself as its own piece and does not require the play t...

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...ch created a feeling of excitement and grandness movement leading to the third movement.
The third movement, Valse, starts out with strings creating a very uneasy melody, foreshadowing something ahead in the melody. The motto theme is repeated again in this movement which creates a feeling of nostalgia for the tragic opening of the symphony. The fourth and the last movement start out with a fully synchronized and a major mode. The last movement contains many repetitive structures but also has some delicate structures such as the part including the woodwinds. The tempo of the last movement is constant and keeps the same pace giving the audience a feel of steadiness, this piece is also marked by the pianissimo, which helps with the effect. Overall, the Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No, 5 created a perfect atmosphere for ending the day with Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra.

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