| Mendelssohn’s Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a good example of program music because __________. | it transforms the ideas of plot and character from Shakespeare’s play into a work of instrumental music |
| The five themes heard in the overture correspond to __________. | the setting and characters in A Midsummer Night’s Dream |
| Mendelssohn has the full orchestra play loudly for __________. | the third theme, representing Theseus, the ruler of the humans |
| The sections of the sonata form heard in these excerpts are the __________. | development and coda |
| program music | An instrumental work that is in some way associated with a story, event, or idea. |
| overture | A purely instrumental opening movement that introduces a longer work, often for voices (as an opera). |
| Mendelssohn helped bring to life a long-forgotten work by __________. | bath |
| The connection between Shakespeare’s play and Mendelssohn’s Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream was explained by __________. | Mendelssohn himself, who wanted a brief account of the play in the printed program |
| Which of the following is true of program music? | It is instrumental music openly linked to an object, idea, or story. |
| Mendelssohn keeps within sonata form protocol by __________. | bringing all themes back in the recapitulation |
| Mendelssohn’s Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream sets the mood in the opening by __________. | setting the winds in a high register |
| Which of the following characters are represented in Mendelssohn’s Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream? | the fairies who live in an enchanted forest and Bottom, a tradesman who is turned into a donkey |
| Which character(s) is/are represented by a high-pitched, scurrying theme? | faires |
| Mendelssohn’s Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream makes sense without prior knowledge of the drama because __________. | Mendelssohn knew that not every listener would know the play and composed accordingly |
| Which character is represented by a loud, braying theme? | Bottom, the weaver |
| As a child prodigy who toured much of Europe at a young age, Mendelssohn was similar to __________. | Mozart |
Felix Mendelssohn, Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
July 21, 2019