Overture
An orchestral introduction played before an opera, oratorio, or suite begins
Category
form
Pronunciation
OH-ver-chur
Origin
French
Length
83 words · 1 min read
About Overture
An overture sets the mood and introduces key themes that will appear later in the work. In opera, it functions as a musical preview — audiences hear melodies they will encounter again in dramatic context.
More form terms
Coda
View all formterms →A concluding passage that brings a piece or movement to an end.
PreludeAn introductory piece of music that precedes a larger work or stands as an independent short composition
RecitativoA vocal style imitating natural speech rhythms.
Strophic FormA song structure where the same music repeats for each verse with different lyrics each time
ScherzoA joke; a lively, often humorous movement.
v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →