Introduction
Classical-period symphonies, such as The overture to Die Zauberflöte, K. 620, known as The magic flute, play an essential role in the realm of music, enriching history with pieces filled with talent and revolutionary approaches. The magic flute was created by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a prolific German composer, and represented a symphony that lasted for several minutes. Nowadays, Mozart and his works are not only admired by musical connoisseurs but set as points of reference for countless aspiring composers. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the given symphony in order to gain insights into its meaning, process, and history, since several movements influenced the composition.
Definition
The piece The magic flute is usually referred to as a singspiel. It is generally seen as a thinly-veiled exaltation of the values of Freemasonry, toward which Mozart adhered, and it is noteworthy that it is equally profound and amusing (Utah Opera, 2019). However, the composer never considered it to be a singspiel; instead, he named it an opera despite the fact that it had spoken dialogue and predetermined musical performances (Utah Opera, 2019). As a result, while having features of a singspiel, it remains to be an opera, as accentuated by the author.
Process
The symphony is arranged in opposite realms, dividing the piece into several parts. The first is the Kingdom of Night, which is headed by the Queen of the Night and represented by the moon as well as the color silver (Opera Grand Rapids, 2018). In turn, the sun and the color gold are symbols of another realm, the Kingdom of the Temple of the Wisdom, which is ruled by the High Priest Sarastro (Opera Grand Rapids, 2018). The composer emphasizes how only one union, one force, can bring the rivals together, such as the union of a prince and princess (Opera Grand Rapids, 2018). Moreover, the symphony uses several instruments, among which are flutes, which are the main object, clarinets, trumpets, and trombones, as well as several others (Counts, n.d.). Thus, the opera works by illuminating the plot events with several instruments.
Meaning
The overall plot and the presence of characters lead to a specific message, which Mozart desired to share. The plot of the opera revolves around two kingdoms that are enemies and are used as symbols to illuminate the main theme of love and fairness. The main idea is that only a harmonious marriage between a man and a woman, marked by justice and attained by unadulterated love, moral fortitude, and Freemasonry rites, can bring about peace in the world (Opera Grand Rapids, 2018). In this situation, Freemasonry implies victory over evil and unfairness. Consequently, the author agrees that love is the most potent force on the planet and it is capable of overturning the darkness.
Operaâs History
The last element worth mentioning is the history of the opera. The magic flute, known as Die Zauberflöte, was written by Mozart in 1791, at the zenith of his life, and is undoubtedly one of his more intriguing compositions (Howard, 2019). It is known that Italian opera was the style in which Mozart made the most of his operatic advances (Howard, 2019). However, Mozart additionally occasionally experimented with the German Singspiel style, which combines spoken dialogue with pre-recorded musical parts. Compared to Italian opera, the Singspiel style, which was applied in The magic flute, was less conventional, rigid, and consequently less obviously in dire need of innovation and transformation (Howard, 2019). Therefore, Mozart followed an unconventional path when composing the given piece.
The Following Steps
Finally, it is critical to see the analyzed symphony as the enthusiastic message of a brilliant artist at the peak of his career instead of as Mozart’s gift or resignation from the field of music. This does not represent the funeral rituals of a person who sensed the passing of the years and thought he had spoken all. Rather, it is the uplifting melody of a man with ambitions for tomorrow. The overture to Die Zauberflöte could be the most satisfying minutes of music within that viewpoint. Therefore, when analyzing symphonies, it is vital to look beyond the genre or instruments and search for the meaning and intention.
Conclusion
Hence, considering that the given symphony was affected by several movements, analysis is important to understand its content, compositional method, and historical context. Die Zauberflöte, sometimes referred to as the magic flute, was written by Mozart in 1791. Typically, a singspiel is used to describe The magic flute. While it has elements of speech and music, Mozart still contends that his work is an opera, rather than a singspiel. The symphony is divided into many sections by its arrangement in opposing worlds. The basic meaning is that the only successful unions are those between men and women, distinguished by fairness and gained by pure love. Lastly, it is crucial to view the studied symphony as the passionate message of a talented artist at the pinnacle of his career rather than as Mozart’s gift or departure from the world of music.
References
Counts, J. (n.d.) Mozart â Overture to Die Zauberflöte, K. 620 (The Magic Flute). Utah Symphony. Web.
Howard, L. (2019). Background to The Magic Flute. Utah Opera. Web.
Opera Grand Rapids. (2018). Mozartâs The Magic Flute: A masonic opera. Web.