Overture

**Overture**
Overture is the name used for the musical introduction to an opera. It contains no vocals and has the main melody of all the songs that will be in the whole opera. Over the course of time overtures have changed and now vary between 17th century overturs to now 20th century overtures. In the 17th century overtures were shorter and had a sung proplouge over the top of the music. The french overture was played behind the curtain before the opera had begun. It would return following the prologue and was distinctively rythmic and functional. Italian overture was soft and short and was dancelike and the movement of the song went fast-slow-fast. 20th century concert overtures were in two linked sections, alegretto and presto.