vorspiel

[ fawr-shpeel, fohr- ]

noun
  1. an introductory movement to a musical work, especially a prelude or overture.

Origin of vorspiel

1
<German, equivalent to vor- pre-, fore1 + Spiel game, play

Words Nearby vorspiel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use vorspiel in a sentence

  • The vorspiel of "Siegfried" is expressive of Mime's planning and plotting.

  • In the early portion of this vorspiel only the string instruments are used.

  • This "Valkyr" vorspiel is a masterly representation in tone of a storm gathering for its last infuriated onslaught.

  • Through themes which are familiar from earlier portions of the work, the vorspiel rises to a crashing fortissimo.

  • Then to the sombre, questioning phrase of the Motive of Fate, the action begins to disclose the significance of this vorspiel.