Form

An overture is an instrumental work played before the beginning of a dramatic work. It was used to prepare the audience for the rest of the show and often used themes from later in the piece. An Italian Overture is an introduction to an opera or vocal work and has three simple sections of fast-slow-fast. Popular overtures in the eighteenth century would often be played outside of their operatic contexts in public concerts. This recording is from the beginning of a popular overture in the eighteenth from Paisiello’s overture to Il barbiere di Siviglia. The example uses flutes, oboes, bassoons, violins, viola, cello, and double bass.

A menuet is a dance, typically in 3/4, that was typically in ABA form, but each section had its own smaller form that it followed. The A section was the menuet, the dance. It would have a very strong down beat and would be written in two smaller sections that would both be repeated. The B section was the trio. This section was written with the purpose of being a sweeter and lighter sounding section. Often an emphasis would be put on off beats and they would write it with three distinct ideas. Like the menuet, each section within the trio was repeated. The final A section was again the menuet, however, the repeats would not be taken in this final section.

The violins play the complete initial statement of the main theme for this movement of the sinfonia. The main theme is the melodic idea which forms the compositional foundation of the movement; portions of it will be repeated in isolation, transposed, and varied with some repetitions of the complete idea over the course of the movement.