Die Walkure

?
Which voice part sings Siegmund?
Tenor
1 of 41
Which voice part sings Sieglinde?
Soprano
2 of 41
Which voice part sings Hunding?
Bass
3 of 41
Which voice part sings Wotan?
Bass/Baritone
4 of 41
Which voice part sings Fricka?
Mezzo-soprano
5 of 41
Which voice part sings Brunnhilde?
Soprano
6 of 41
What voice parts sing the Valkyries?
Soprano/Mezzo-Soprano
7 of 41
What instruments were included in Wagner's orchestra?
Over 100 players: violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, flute, piccolo, oboe, cor anglais, clarinet, bassoon, horn, tuba, trumpet, bass trumpet, trombone, contrabass trombone, timpani, triangle, cymbal, drum, glock
8 of 41
Where is Die Walkure taken from?
It is part of 'Der Ring des Nibelungen', a cycle of four operas based on characters from the Norse sagas.
9 of 41
When and where was the first performance of the complete cycle?
1876, in the Festspielhaus theatre which was built especially for the performance in Bayreuth.
10 of 41
How was the piece performed?
Auditorium in darkness, amphitheatre seating, orchestra hidden under the stage in a pit, focus on the performance.
11 of 41
What is the tonal scheme of Act 1?
D minor -> G major
12 of 41
What is the tonal scheme of Act 2?
A minor -> D minor
13 of 41
What is the tonal scheme of Act 3?
B minor -> E major
14 of 41
What are the most common structures used in 'Die Walkure'?
AAB (bar), ABA (bogen/arch) plus the use of linking passages with little structure to add ambiguity.
15 of 41
What is the general structure with regards to style?
No set order of song with regards to style.
16 of 41
Why does Wagner use very few traditional Da Capo Arias?
Uses a lot more recitative style than other opera composers in order to communicate his complex storylines rather than dwelling on one small aspect in a long aria.
17 of 41
What is a leitmotif?
A melody associated with an idea, character, object or situation.
18 of 41
How does Wagner use leitmotifs?
pioneered by Wagner- he reharmonises, reorchestrates, alters rhythms or intervals with his motifs.
19 of 41
What was leitmotif developed from?
Thematic reminiscence- using a theme more than once but giving it an association.
20 of 41
What are the key features of Hunding's motif?
Related to the Giant’s leitmotif from Das Rheingold, low pitch, brass, C minor.
21 of 41
What are the key features of the Sword motif?
Derived from the Nature leitmotif, closely related to the Gold leitmotif, Fanfare-like (fifths & octaves), C major, Links to nature = purity
22 of 41
What are the key features of the Valhalla motif?
Related to Albreich’s Ring leitmotif, Major tonality, Links to ring = desire.
23 of 41
What are the key features of the Sieglinde motif?
Ambiguous = innocence, Minor suggests bad things will happen to her, F major = purity.
24 of 41
What are the key features of the Siegmund motif?
Related to Wotan’s motif of dejection or frustration= negativity, linked to the storm motif= bad things to come/inner turmoil,
25 of 41
What are the key features of the Twins Love motif?
slower, more compassionate, version of Freia’s motif from Das Rheingold=fate/ can’t be together, Romantic -> tragic sounding,
26 of 41
What are the key features of the Prelude?
Shorter than traditional overture, sets mood and runs straight into the first scene, longer passages of orchestral music are found throughout as links between scenes or as part of the action, some orchestral pieces arranged for concert performance.
27 of 41
What is the most significant extended scene in Act 1?
Act 1, Scene 3 - including Wintersturme
28 of 41
What are the key features of Act 1, Scene 3?
Tonal centre of A, recurring Hunding motif to suggest danger, harmonic rhythm = two chords per bar, ABAB form, build up to the end of Act 1.
29 of 41
What are the key features of 'Wintersturme'?
Begins as conventional aria, clear melodic phrasing, melody and accompaniment texture, sings about love, does NOT return to 'A' section- instead develops into new section, use of Twins Love motif to enhance feel of romance.
30 of 41
How does Wagner build up to the end of Act 1?
Rich polyphonic texture, rapid arpeggios on strings, top strings doubling voice in parts, triplet crochets against 4/4 metre, interrupted cadences delay ending, Siegmund's final notes=perfect cadence in E minor, modulates to G major (as planned).
31 of 41
What are the most significant extended scenes in Act 3?
Act 3, Scene 1 and Act 3, Scene 3
32 of 41
What are the key features of Act 3, Scene 1?
Antiphonal exchanges, continual change of key, 'ride motif' played by brass to show battle/war, rising sequence=anticipation, vocal line=chromatic, trills in vocals suggest panic, wide tessiture when Valkyries sing together, exaggerates portamentos.
33 of 41
What are the key features of Act 3, Scene 3?
Solo woodwind=Brunnhilde's isolation, unaccompanied singing-unusal as it disrupts the flow of music, opening=low in soprano range(reflects state of mind), more orchestra join as she becomes more confident, ending=E major Magic Fire theme.
34 of 41
What are the four key pieces of related repertoire?
Verdi- Otello, La Traviata, Rigoletto and Don Carlo.
35 of 41
What are the key features of Verdi's writing?
Political messages, 'human drama' not myth/symbolism, development of character and plot, 'bel canto' style, melody became more felxible, rnage of harmonic language and dramatic use of orchestra developed, use of 'motifs of recollection'.
36 of 41
What are the key features of Verdi's structural writing?
Four or three acts and a prologue, traditional song forms (solo, duet, ensemble, chorus) regular phrasing, harmonic contrasts for structure were unambiguous, recitative and aria not treated separately, 'parlante' style of recitative.
37 of 41
What are the key scenes and features of Verdi's 'Otello'?
See extra paper.
38 of 41
What are the key scenes and features of Verdi's 'La Traviata'?
See extra paper.
39 of 41
What are the key scenes and features of Verdi's 'Rigoletto'?
See extra paper.
40 of 41
What are the key scenes and features of Verdi's 'Don Carlo'?
See extra paper.
41 of 41

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Which voice part sings Sieglinde?

Back

Soprano

Card 3

Front

Which voice part sings Hunding?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Which voice part sings Wotan?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Which voice part sings Fricka?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Music resources:

See all Music resources »See all Music for the Stage resources »