Score analysis

Table of contents

Weber – Euryanthe Overture

Weber – Euryanthe Overture

With the opera Euryanthe, Weber, a contemporary of Beethoven, aimed at the close union of arts already advocated by Hoffmann. A concept largely inherited by Wagner.

Wagner – Parsifal Prelude to Act 1

Wagner – Parsifal Prelude to Act 1

The very first phrase of Wagner’s Prelude to Act 1 of Parsifal holds in itself the germs of dramatically important leitmotifs recurring throughout the whole opera: the Redemption, the Wound, and the spear motif.

Franz Liszt: Dante Symphony – Part 1

Franz Liszt: Dante Symphony – Part 1

A mesmerizing descend into hell: Dante’s Divine Comedy turned into a symphonic poem by the imagination of Franz Liszt

Conducting Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte
Conducting Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte

The Pavane pour une infante défunte (Pavane for a dead princess) is one of Ravel’s most popular pieces and one that sooner or later comes to the attention of any conductor: it’s relatively simple, with a very linear structure, and it’s scored for a chamber orchestra. The real challenge is hidden in the orchestration and all the nuances that need to emerge by reading through the lines.

Conducting Mozart: Symphony n.40 K550 – 1st movement
Conducting Mozart: Symphony n.40 K550 – 1st movement

Although one of the most recognizable pieces of all classical western music,
Mozart’s symphony n.40 K550 remains, like most of Mozart’s music, full of traps, even though it doesn’t seem so difficult to conduct from a technical point of view.

In this article we’ll tackle the first movement of this immortal work, its structure, and phrasing, the “G minor key” aspect, and, of course, some technical tips.

Conducting Dvořák: Symphony n.9 – 1st movement
Conducting Dvořák: Symphony n.9 – 1st movement

Dvořák’s Symphony n.9 “From the New World” is mandatory learning for any conductor: here we’ll go through an analysis of its first movement, looking at structure, harmony, the “American” aspects of the music, and, of course, a few conducting tips.

Conducting Pills

A FREE video series with an analysis of structure, phrasing, and, of course, conducting tips of repertoire works: from Mozart to Brahms, from Beethoven to Debussy. A new episode every week!

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