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Don Giovanni: Overture
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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Duration of performance:
the opera as a whole: more than three hours
overture: 6-7 minutes
Orchestra:
2 flutes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 3
trombones, drums, mandolin, strings (first and second violins, violas,
celli, double bass).
bars 1-4
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The overture for the opera Don Giovanni was written down during
the night before the premiere. It consists of 2 parts: a slow introduction,
followed by a fast part in sonata form. What is first presented is the
series of 4 Commendatore motifs, which form the musical substance of the
scene with the Commendatore at the end of the opera in the diningroom of
Don Giovanni's castle. The first 4 bars consist of a powerful syncopated
motif, the melodic focus is formed from a descending fourth.
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bars 5-15
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This introductory fourth step of the Commendatore motif is
followed by a dotted quarter-note rhythm, succeeded by a string motif
marked by an ascending second.
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bars 23-30
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The demonic element of the opera is first revealed in the scale
passages. They are arranged in such a way that a forceful crescendo is
prescribed for the ascent, the pitch then gives way to piano, which is
followed by a harmonically slightly altered descent.
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bars 31-35
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After the transition from D minor to D major we hear the main
theme of this overture. In this theme Mozart briefly characterises his
hero: driving passion (bars 1-4), frivolity (bars 5,6), gallant appearance
(bars 7,8) are reflected.A kind of codetta leads to A major, the dominant
key.
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bars 56-76
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The secondary theme stresses the playfulness in Don Giovanni's character. A pendant leads to E major.
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bars 77-91
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The closing group, containing a further subject, is rich in contrasts: 2 bars in forte, unisono (showing determination), 2 bars with light eighth notes (the playful element) - derived from the 5th and 6th
bars of the main theme.
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bars 99-111
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The epilogue is formed by a playful sounding theme.
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bars 121-140
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After a general pause the development uses mainly the theme of the closing group. Determination and the power of fate are reflected in
the unisono motif, the playful element is expressed by the following eighth
note passage.
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bars 193-207
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In the recapitulation all three themes occur in the root key, D major.
Main theme of the recapitulation.
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bars 277-291
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At the end of the overture Mozart modulates into F major, so
as to lead on without interruption to the first scene, Leporello's
appearance.
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