Response 1

Hello Ruth,

Verdi’s use of music still interests me too because of its effectiveness by varying the intensities. I

can use your idea to make the assertion that Otello indeed uses music and melody to create a

significant theatrical effect. I am now certain that musical effect in Otello and other works is

significant as it provides a commentary of different plots whether directly or indirectly. It

enhances the understanding of the play making it easy to relate to it more easily. To an extent,

the music makes it easy to follow the story being told. And surely, the variation in intensity that

you point out is one way music is significant in Verdi’s Otello

Response 2

Hi Annalise

I did an analysis of the Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and I am in total agreement with your

assertion that music is significant as it helped portray different motives, emotions, and attitudes.

The opera is a combination of romance, comedy, mistaken identity, and misadventure as the

action and the relationship unfolds. And this is evident is reflected in the music and instrumental

right from the start till the end of the Marriage of Figaro. It uses fast and slow tempos with both

soft and loud dynamics to show the different tricks of the characters.