overture etymology

Etymology:

  • From Middle French ouverture, from Old French overture, from Late Latin obertura, from a hypothetical Vulgar Latin form *opertura, a derivative of operire ("to cover").

Meaning:

  • An instrumental composition or section that serves as an introduction to an opera, oratorio, or other musical work.
  • An opening act or a piece of music played before the main performance to set the tone.

Origin:

The term "overture" originally referred to a musical composition that played before the main performance to provide the audience with a glimpse of the themes and motifs that would be developed throughout the work. In the Baroque era (1600-1750), overtures became standard features of operas and oratorios. They often had three distinct sections:

  • Grave: A slow and stately introduction
  • Allegro: A fast and lively section in triple meter
  • Minuet: A slow, graceful dance in triple meter

Over time, the structure of overtures became more flexible, and they began to include a wider range of musical elements. Romantic era overtures (1800-1900) were often longer and more complex, serving as miniature tone poems that set the mood and atmosphere for the opera.

Today, overtures are still an important part of many musical performances, providing a dynamic and engaging introduction to the main work.

overture relate terms

  • overt

    Etymology Latin overtus open uncovered bare Proto Indo European h₁éh₁wer

  • aperitif

    Etymology The word aperitif comes from the Latin verb aperire which means to open

  • apertive

    Etymology The word aperitif comes from the French word apéritif which in turn deriv

  • aperture

    Etymology The word aperture comes from the Latin word aperire meaning to open Mean

  • barbican

    Etymology From Middle English barbikane from Old French barbacane from Late Latin barb

  • cover

    Etymology Origin of the Word Middle English coveren cover from the Old French covr

  • covert

    Covert Etymology Late 16th century via French from Latin coopertus past participle

  • curfew

    Etymology Middle English curfeu from Anglo Norman French cuvrefeu from Medieval Lati

  • discover

    Etymology The study of the origin and development of words Meaning Etymology is derive

  • garage

    Etymology Old French garite meaning shelter or small room Late Latin garita mea

  • garment

    Etymology The word garment comes from the Old French word garnement which in turn i

  • garnish

    Etymology The word garnish comes from the Old French word garnir meaning to supply

  • garret

    Etymology Old French Garret room on top floor Middle French Garret Late Latin Garr

  • garrison

    Etymology The word garrison derives from the Middle French word garnison which in tu

  • guarantee

    Etymology The word guarantee comes from the Old French word garantie which in turn

  • guaranty

    Etymology The word guaranty comes from the Old French word garantie which in turn co

  • kerchief

    Etymology Middle English kerechief from Old French couvrechief literally cover

  • landwehr

    Etymology German Landwehr Land land Wehr defense fortification Meaning

  • operculum

    Etymology Latin operculum lid cover Meaning and Origin The word operculum ori

  • overt

    Etymology Latin overtus open uncovered bare Proto Indo European h₁éh₁wer

  • overture

    Etymology From Middle French ouverture from Old French overture from Late Latin obert

  • pert

    Etymology From Middle English pert from Old English pert bright brisk lively proba

  • warn

    Etymology From Middle English warnyng warnynge from Old English wearnung wearnunge

  • warrant

    Etymology The word warrant originates from the Old French term warant which in turn

  • warrantee

    Etymology Warrantee comes from the Old High German weren meaning to protect or to

  • warranty

    Etymology The word warranty originates from the Old French word warantie which in tu

  • warren

    Etymology and Meaning The surname Warren is derived from an Old French word warin wh

  • Wehrmacht

    Etymology The term Wehrmacht is a German word derived from two components Wehr Mea

  • weir

    Etymology The word weird has origins in Old English specifically from the word wyrd

  • advance

    Etymology The word advance comes from the Old French word avancer which originally m

  • approach

    Etymology Approach comes from the Middle English word approchen which in turn derive

  • preliminary

    Etymology preliminary adjective from Latin prae before liminaris threshold M

  • origin

    Etymology Latin origo beginning source Meaning The place of origin birth m

  • inception

    Etymology Inception is derived from the Latin word incipio which means to begin o

  • prelude

    Etymology The word prelude comes from the Latin word praeludere which means to play

  • suggestion

    Etymology The word suggestion comes from the Latin word suggestio which means a whi

  • music

    Etymology and Meaning of Music The word music comes from the Greek word mousike wh

  • proposition

    Etymology Latin prōpositio prō forth positio placing situation Meaning

  • proffer

    Etymology The word proffer comes from the Middle English profren which is itself de