Exercise 2 - Tranfiguration of themes (or development)
Wagner was a master of transforming themes depending on the plot. Look at how he has transformed the pompous and dignified theme of the Meistersinger into a little joke. The context of this theme is when Beckmesser, who wants to marry Eva, appears on stage and is portrayed as rather an idiot. We hear the following:
- From which previously heard theme does this one come?
- How exactly is this transformed? Listen to the link in 05:20:
Exercise 3
Listen to the bars that follow the above. Which themes are now heard? Can you hear how Wagner works TWO themes together in the following methods:
- one after the other as a musical dialogue, called juxtaposing.
- superimposing one on top of the other.