What is the word for the parts of a play

Author Unknown

Unit 15. The World of Art. Cinema. THEATRE. Painting.

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UNIT 15. THE WORLD OF ART. CINEMA. THEATRE. PAINTING “The world without art is just eh”.

2. THEATRE

15.2.1. Answer the questions:

1. Have you ever been to the theatre?

2. What play did you go to? Did you like it?

3. Do you have your favourite play?

4. Would you like to act in theatre?

15.2.2. Vocabulary.

People: the cast, actor, ballet dancer, costume designer, director, usher

Inside the theatre: backstage, wing, bar, box-office, cloakroom, curtain, dressing room, foyer, house, row, scenery, stage, stalls, the orchestra stalls, the balcony, the box, the dress circle, the gallery, the pit Performances: matinee, drama, play

Verbs: to applaud/ to clap, to put on/stage a play, to rehearse, to book the tickets, to enjoy the play

Other words and phrases: What’s on at the theatre today?; The house is full today; Who is playing the leading role?; The interval will last…; curtain calls; make-up; rehearsal; the curtain falls/drops/goes down; the curtain goes up/rises, the curtains draw; the lights go up/down; the musicians tune up.

15.2.3. Read the text and answer the questions.

The Theatre

People live a very busy life nowadays, so they have little time to spare. Still they try their best to make use of those rare hours of leisure. Some people find it a pleasure to go to the theatre. The theatre is one of the most ancient kinds of arts. For centuries people have come to the theatre for different aims: to relax, to be amused and entertained, to have a good laugh, to enjoy the acting of their favourite actors and actresses.

Some people like drama, others are fond of musical comedy. The subtlest theatre-lovers prefer ballet and opera. In our country there are a lot of theatres: big and small, new and old, famous and not very well known. The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow is among the most famous theatres in the world. Wonderful operas and ballets are staged in this theatre. The names of Ulanova, Plisetskaya, Maximova, Vasiliev, Arkhipova, Sotkilava and others are known worldwide.

The other most popular Moscow theatres are the Maly Theatre, the Satire Theatre, the Vachtangov Theatre, the Variety Theatre and others. Young spectators attend the Children’s Musical Theatre and the Puppet Theatre more willingly. All these and lots of other theatres present a great variety of shows. That makes a spectator feel somewhat at a loss what theatre to choose. In this case it may turn out useful to consult a billboard and find out what and where is on. Sometimes you may face a difficulty of another kind: that is of getting tickets. If you don’t feel like standing in a queue for tickets at the box-office, you may book them beforehand.

Ticket prices vary according to the seats. The better seats at the theatre are in the stalls and in the dress circle. They are rather expensive seats. Boxes, of course, are the best seats and the most expensive, too. Those people, who are short of money, take seats in the gallery, in the balcony or in the upper balcony. Tickets for afternoon performances are cheaper than those for evening performances.

1. Did people go to the theatre in the ancient time?

1. What are the reasons why people go to the thetare? What about you?

2. What kind of theatre performance do you prefer?

3. What theatres in Russia can you name?

4. Is it always easy to get a ticket to the theatre?

5. What kind of seats in the teatre can you name? Where do you prefer to sit?

Unit 15. The World of Art. Cinema. THEATRE. Painting.

15.2.4. Match the words and their definitions

__ SETTING

An act of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment.

__ SCENE

The written text of a stage play, screenplay, or broadcast

__ SOUND

A movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or a feeling

__ CLIMAX

The making of articulate sounds (as in pronunciation)

__ PLAYWRIGHT

The background (as time and place) of the action of a story or performance

__

A woman or girl who acts especially in a play or movie or on television

ARTICULATION

A particular impression obtained by hearing

__

The point of highest dramatic interest or a major turning point in the action

PERFORMANCE

A person who writes plays

__ DIALOGUE

. A single situation or conversation in a play

__ PART

. Conversation given in a written story or play

__ DIRECTOR

. A group that listens or watches (as at a play or concert)

__ SCRIPT

. The space or area where a performance take place

__ ACTRESS

. A man or boy who acts especially in a play or movie or on television

__ GESTURE

. An actor or actresses role in a play

__ AUDIENCE

. The main story (as of a literary work, play, or movie)

__ STAGE

. A small object such as a book, weapon etc, used by actors in a play

__ ACTOR

. The words of a part in a play

__ PLOT

. A private performance or practice session in preparation for a public appearance such

__

as a play

PROTAGONIST

. The first part of a piece of music or a play in which the theme is presented

__ REHEARSAL

. The painted scenes or hangings and accessories used on a theater stage

__ SCENERY

. One that guides the making of a show (as for stage or screen)

__ PROP

. The chief character in a play, novel, or story

__ LINE

__ EXPOSITION

15.2.5. Good reading.

1. Why is Kate disappointed? K: Phew, we aren’t late.

J: I was afraid of being late too.

K: Where are our seats?

J: In the balcony, let’s hurry up.

K: In the balcony? You are kidding! I thought they would be in the stalls.

J: No, our seats are in the balcony, you see, they were the last seats left.

K: You’ve bought the cheapest seats!

J: It was impossible to get other seats; by the way the view of the stage from the balcony is rather good. We’ll see everything excellently.

K: OK, there’s no use to quarrel in the theatre.

J: Don’t worry. The play is modern and very interesting. You’ll enjoy it.

1. Was the performance successful?

1. Did you like the performance?

1. Oh, John, it was great! I have forgotten everything. It was so interesting!

1. How did you like the acting of the young actress?

2. She was charming and witty. Her acting is impressing.

1. The cast was excellent today. They are all stars. I’ve got a lot of positive impressions.

2. You’re right, my dear. Did you notice that the scenery was really beautiful?

1. Yes, I did. It was fantastic! Are you still angry with me?

2. No, my dear. I’m very happy!

Unit 15. The World of Art. Cinema. THEATRE. Painting.

15.2.6. Act out the dialogues

A tourist is asking a stranger about popular English Theatres.

Tourist: Good morning, Sir! May I ask you a question?

Stranger: Of course!

Tourist: I came to London for two days and would like to visit one of its most famous theatres.

Stranger: Oh, there are very many of them. I think you may visit the National Theatre. It is one of the best.

Tourist: Is it in the South Bank Arts center?

Stranger: Yes, it is. I advise you the Royal Court Theatre. It performs modern plays and is one of my favourite theatres. There is also the National Youth Theatre. Its members are all young people. You will surely like the plays staged there.

Tourist: I am sure there are many other theatres in London. Everyone may find something to their own taste. Stranger: There are 48 theatres in the West End and about 10 in the suburbs! It makes London be one of theatrical cities of the world. I am sure, you will not forget your visit to a British theatre. Tourist: Thank you for the information!

Stranger: Have a nice stay in London!

Visiting London Theatres.

Mary: Hello, Dave! I haven’t seen you for ages!

Dave: Hello, Mary! I have just returned from Great Britain!

Mary: Really? How interesting! How did you spend your time there?

Dave: I visited theatres and cinemas.

Mary: Great! Did you visit London theatres?

Dave: Some of them. There are more than 50 theatres in London!

Mary: Which did you like the most?

Dave: I liked the Mermaid Theatre in London, which performs modern plays, and the National Youth Theatre, whose members are all young people.

Mary: Did you visit the National Opera House as well?

Dave: There is no “National Opera House”, but the Royal Opera House at Convent Garden. The English National Opera performs operas, sung in English, at the London Coliseum. Mary: Did you watch the Royal Ballet?

Dave: Of course, I adore ballet. The Royal Ballet tours all over the world, I was happy to watch one of its performances.

Mary: I am sure you had an interesting stay in Britain.

Dave: Yes, I dream about visiting this country again.

What seats were bought?

1. Have you got any seats for today’s performance?

1. Matinee or evening performance?

1. Evening, please.

1. How many tickets would you like?

1. Two, please.

1. OK, let me see…

1. I’d like the seats in the stall, please.

1. Would you like to sit in the middle of the row or in the aisle?

1. I prefer the seats in the middle of the row.

1. You can have two seats in the middle of row E.

1. Well, that’s great! How much are they?

1. One hundred fifty euros, please.

1. Here are two hundred euros.

1. Thank you. Here are your tickets and fifty euros change.

1. What time does the performance start?

1. At seven p.m. and the doors open at 6.30.

1. Thank you.

1. You’re welcome.

Unit 15. The World of Art. Cinema. THEATRE. Painting.

15.2.7. What word or phrase is this?

1. A play or a film in which part of the story is sung to music.

1. The total number of actors in a play or in a film.

2. The people who watch the play at the cinema.

3. What these people do with their hands at the end of the play.

4. The person who makes a film.

5. Journalists who write articles about films and plays.

6. The name of the articles they write.

7. The translation of the story of a film across the bottom of the screen.

8. To reserve tickets before the performance.

9. The most important actors or actresses in a film.

15.2.8. Guess the words:

1.

A picture of a person

7.

A person who performs in a play

2.

A person who writes poems

8.

The action in a theatre happens here

3.

The place where a painter works

9.

This person makes images of people or things

4.

A person who performs in a play

10.

An image of a place or thing

5.

A person who writes poems

11.

A show or a spectacle in a public place

6.

A person who writes books

12.

You can watch a play or a concert here

Unit 15. The World of Art. Cinema. THEATRE. Painting.

UNIT 15.2. Art. Самостоятельные работы.

Work 1

1. Fill in the sentences with new words.

1. _______________ is a performance that takes place in the morning.

1. The __________________ is a break between two parts of the performance.

2. What is ____ at the theatre tonight?

3. The house is __________ today. All the tickets have been sold out.

4. We had lots of ____________________ before the day of the play.

5. I would like to be a _______________ and to stage a play one day.

6. Two sits in the __________________, please.

7. The _____________________ of this drama is really cool! I like all the actors. They are great!

8. Could I, please, _____________ one ticket for an evening performance on Friday?

9. The actors are in the ________________ room now getting ready for the beginning of the performance.

2. Match the names and definitions.

a)The stage

___ Small roles

b) The boards

___ Noises off (sounds like rain or thunder which produce a dramatic effect)

c) The deck

___ The space under the stage, mainly used for machinery

d) The cellar

___ Various kinds of floodlights that can produce effects such as blackout

e) The props

___ A scene in which a character discovers some important information which

f)The scenery or setting

changes the course of events for him or for her

g) The decor

___ Played by the leading lady or man

h) Sound effects

___ Consists of the backcloth

i) Lighting effects

___ To mispronounce the words or get the lines wrong

j) Main roles

___ Monologue; this device allows us to discover the inner thoughts and motives

k)Minor

roles

(“bit

of a character

parts”)

___ Usually the first scene of a play

l) To overplay

___ To act with too much restraint

m) To underplay

___ Place where the actors play

n) To muff

___ Not just the setting, but also the props and costumes

o) To dry up

___ The person responsible for directing the actors and deciding on interpretation

p) Stage directions

___ Synonym of stage

q) Soliloquy

___ The stage floor

r)An aside

or

stage

___ To forget one’s lines

whisper

___ To act in an exaggerated way

s) Expository scene

___ They give guidelines about stage effects or the character’s costumes,

t)Relief

/

recognition

attitudes and gestures

scene

___ When a character’s thought is expressed for the audience only

u) The producer

___ (Short for stage properties) The objects used by the actors, the furniture or

carpets.

Unit 15. The World of Art. Cinema. THEATRE. Painting.

Work 2

1. a) Read the text about W. Shakespeare.

W. Shakespeare (1564-1616)

He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, probably on April 23^rd. He attended Stratford grammar school, but he did not go on to study at university. At the age of 19 he went to London where he did a series of jobs, but he eventually became an actor and by 1592 he became a well-known dramatist. In 1595 he joined an important company of actors called The Lord Chamberlain’s Men and performed at court. His improved financial standing allowed him to invest in the building of the Globe Theatre

He retired to his hometown in 1611 where he died in 1616.

Works

Shakespeare wrote 37 plays in a period of twenty years, from 1591 to 1611 and 154 Sonnets. He used many sources for his plays: the classical Greek and Latin writings of Plutarch and Plautus, the Italian works of Matteo Bandello and Giraldo Cinzio and the English historian Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (1577)

The Four Periods

The First Period (1590-1595)

Chronicle plays dealing with the history of England (Richard III, Henry VI); Comedies (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew); Tragedies (Titus Andronicus and Romeo and Juliet)

The 2^nd period (1596-1600)

Shakespeare focused on chronicle plays and comedies and it is generally agreed that it is during these years that he wrote his best comedies: The Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, Twelfth Night

Th3rd Period (1600-1608)

Shakespeare wrote his great tragedies: Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth

The 4^th Period (1609-1612)

A return to a happier state of mind. The Tempest is set in the ideal world of an enchanted island where an atmosphere of magic, music, romance and harmony prevails.

1. Say if the statements are TRUE or FALSE. Underline sentences in the text to prove your answers.

1. Stratford –upon-Avon was Shakespeare’s hometown.

2. W. Shakespeare graduated from the university.

3. He became famous in 1592.

4. He didn’t invest his money in the building of the Globe Theatre.

5. During 20 years Shakespeare wrote a great number of plays.

6. Shakespeare wrote tragedies, comedies and historical plays.

1. Answer the questions:

1. Have you ever visited Shakespeare’s places? Have you been to the Globe?

2. Which of his plays did you see staged? Have you screened versions of his works?

3. What Shakespeare’s works did you read or would like to read?

4. What his work do you like more?

Unit 15. The World of Art. Cinema. THEATRE. Painting.

Work 3

a) Read the text.

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

The original Globe Theatre stood in Southwark, London, on the south bank of the River Thames. Today, an accurate replica stands on the site of the original building.

The Globe was built in 1559 by the acting company of which William Shakespeare was a member. It burnt down in 1613, was rebuilt the following year and then demolished in 1644.

The Globe was an open-air theatre, with three floors and could seat about 3,000 people. The stage measured about 27 by 43 feet and was raised off the ground to allow access by a trapdoor.

The Globe Theatre regularly showed up to 10 different plays in just two weeks. The plays often incorporated special effects, such as acrobatics, fireworks and even a real cannon firing.

Shakespeare was a part owner of the Globe Theatre, and several of his plays were performed there, including Hamlet, As You Like It and Macbeth. Many of William Shakespeare’s plays were first produced in the Globe Theatre in the reign of Elizabeth I. The theatre was burnt down during a performance of King Henry VIII. The fire was started by an ember fired from a cannon used as a prop in the play into the thatched roof of the theatre.

A visit to the Globe Theatre was a big event. As well as the play, there would be music, food and drink and many businesses complained that their employees were going to the theatre rather than to work.

Advertising was also important in Shakespeare’s day and the Globe would fly colour-coded flags to indicate what was playing. A black flag meant a tragedy, while a red flag indicated a historical play.

The new Globe Theatre was built in 1997, following a 20 year campaign by the film maker Sam Wanamaker.

Wanamaker’s vision was to build a replica of the Globe as it would have looked in Elizabethan times.

The authentic replica was made from wood and has London’s only thatched roof. There are no microphones or speakers and the music is played live on period instruments.

Today the Globe Theatre offers guided tours of the facility, as well as an exhibition of life in Shakespeare’s London. The theatre attracts over 200,000 visitors every year.

b) Choose the right variant.

1. The original Globe Theatre was built ………

a) by the River Thames b) far from the River Thames c) not near the River Thames.

2. The original Globe Theatre was built …………

a) in the 15th century b) in the 16th century c) in the 17th century

1. William Shakespeare was a famous ………….. in England.

a) king b) actor c) writer

4. There was a …… in England when Shakespeare’s plays were first performed.

a) king b) queen c) emperor

5. …. caused the fire in the theatre.

a) a man b) an actor c) a prop

Unit 15. The World of Art. Cinema. THEATRE. Painting.

Work 4

a) Put each of the following words in its correct place in the text below.

actors audience theatre seats performance

entertainments perform box-office tickets

1. __________ is a place where you can see a play staged. It is also one of 2) _________. A theatre consists of two parts: the stage and the hall. They are separated by a curtain and the orchestra. 3) __________ and actresses

1. __________ on the stage and public occupies the pit, the dress-circles, the boxes and the gallery.

If we made up our mind to go to the theatre, we should go to the 5) __________ to buy 6) __________. 7)

__________ can be reserved beforehand.

The last __________ I saw was “The Nut Cracker” by Tchaikovsky. How great it was! The main parts were performed by Vadym Pisarev and Inna Dorofeeva. Everyone knows that they are talented dancers. But I also was impressed by a very young ballet-dancer who was performing the part of Masha girl. I think she deserves respect of the 9) __________ because she did her best and looked great for her young age. I had a great time that night.

b) Write the words into the crossword.

1

2

3

B

4

c) What is this?

1. The part of a theatre where actors, dancers, etc. stand and move.

1. A short time between two parts of a play or concert.

2. A person who acts in plays, films or television programmes.

3. All the people who are watching or listening to a film, play, concert or the television.

Crossword Clue Last Updated: 30/08/2021

Below are possible answers for the crossword clue Part of a play.

3 letter answer(s) to part of a play

5 letter answer(s) to part of a play

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What is the word for the parts of play?

Synonyms, crossword answers and other related words for PARTS OF A PLAY [scenes]

What is the start of a play called?

exposition – beginning of the play which explains the who, what and where of the plot. extra – castmember who serves as background for action. Usually used in television or films. eye contact – a performer looking out at the audience directly from time to time.

What is the interval in a play called?

An intermission, also known as an interval in British and Indian English, is a recess between parts of a performance or production, such as for a theatrical play, opera, concert, or film screening.

What is lacking vigor?

lacking vigor
	EFFETE
Lacking vigor
	ANEMIC
Lacking vigor and energy

What are the 5 types of intervals?

There are five different types of quality of interval which are:

• perfect intervals.
• major intervals.
• augmented intervals.
• minor intervals.
• diminished intervals.

What are the two types of intervals?

Whole steps and half steps are two types of intervals.

What interval is C to F?

An augmented interval has one more semitone than a perfect interval. Since C to F is a perfect fourth (5 half steps), C to F# would be an augmented fourth (6 half steps). Since C to F is a perfect fourth (5 semitones), C to F# would be an augmented fourth (6 semitones).

What interval is A to F?

The interval between A and F is a sixth. Note that, at this stage, key signature, clef, and accidentals do not matter at all. The simple intervals are one octave or smaller. If you like you can listen to each interval as written in Figure 4.34: prime, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, octave.

Why are intervals called perfect?

The term perfect identifies this interval as belonging to the group of perfect intervals, so called because they are neither major nor minor. Play (help·info)), while in equal temperament a perfect fourth is equal to five semitones, or 500 cents (see additive synthesis).

What’s a perfect interval?

Perfect intervals have only one basic form. The first (also called prime or unison), fourth, fifth and eighth (or octave) are all perfect intervals. Perfect intervals sound “perfectly consonant.” Which means, when played together, there is a sweet tone to the interval. It sounds perfect or resolved.

Why are fifths and fourths perfect?

The term perfect identifies the perfect fifth as belonging to the group of perfect intervals (including the unison, perfect fourth and octave), so called because of their simple pitch relationships and their high degree of consonance.

Why is 4th and 5th perfect?

The way it was explained to me was that if you inverted a perfect interval it wouls produce another perfect interval. If you invert a perfect fifth you get a perfect fourth, and vice versa. (The same as the octave.) Then call 6 semitones a minor fifth and 7 semitones a major fifth.

What is the 5th in music?

In classical music from Western culture, a fifth is the interval from the first to the last of five consecutive notes in a diatonic scale. For example, the interval from C to G is a perfect fifth, as the note G lies seven semitones above C.

Why is it called a fifth music?

So in the above example the interval from E to B is 5 because it encompass (or spans) E F G A B = 5 notes. Similarly the interval between C and G in the key of C major is also a Fifth because C D E F G = 5 notes in the diatonic C major scale. So that’s what makes the interval a “Fifth”.

How do you know if its a perfect interval?

The way to find out is to count the number of half steps between the notes. Start with the lower note and count in half steps moving up until you reach the last note. This should help you decide if the interval truly is “perfect”. A perfect unison is very easy to find because both notes are exactly the same.

How do you name intervals?

In Western music theory, an interval is named according to its number (also called diatonic number) and quality. For instance, major third (or M3) is an interval name, in which the term major (M) describes the quality of the interval, and third (3) indicates its number.

What’s a triad?

Triad, in music, a chord made up of three tones, called chord factors, of the diatonic scale: root, third, and fifth. The system of diatonic triads is the basis of tonal harmony in music.

What is the key signature?

Key signature, in musical notation, the arrangement of sharp or flat signs on particular lines and spaces of a musical staff to indicate that the corresponding notes, in every octave, are to be consistently raised (by sharps) or lowered (by flats) from their natural pitches.

How do you name a major key signature?

To find the name of a key signature with sharps, look at the sharp farthest to the right. The key signature is the note a half step above that last sharp. Key signatures can specify major or minor keys. To determine the name of a minor key, find the name of the key in major and then count backwards three half steps.

How do you create a key signature?

In order to build the key signature of a major scale or tonality, it is important to remember that the major scale of C does not have any key signature. On the contrary, any other scale may have sharps or flats. All major scales based on a flat note, G flat, E flat, D flat, etc. use key signatures with flats.

What is the meaning of time signature?

The time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, or measure signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats (pulses) are contained in each measure (bar), and which note value is equivalent to a beat.

What are the types of time signature?

There are three main types of time signatures: simple, compound, and complex.

What is the symbol of common time?

Common time, also known as time, is a meter with four quarter-note beats per measure. It’s often symbolized by the common-time symbol: . Cut time, also known as or alla breve, is a meter with two half-note beats per measure.

What is the 12 8 time signature?

Basic Music Theory 101: 12/8 time means that there are 12 beats per measure, and the eighth note gets one beat. Just like 3/4 time would mean 3 beats to the measure, with the 1/4 note getting one beat.

What is a 9 8 time signature?

9/8 uses the eighth note or the dotted quarter as the basic unit, rather than the quarter, so unless you see half of an eighth note (a 16th, or perhaps a dotted eighth) in there somewhere (making it 8.5/8), it will not start on the “and” of the beat. Re: 9/8 time signature 18:19 on Monday, August 7, 2006.

Is 3/8 a simple or compound?

Here we have the equivalent of three quavers (eighth notes), so it is simple triple time, with a quaver beat (eighth note beat). The time signature is 3/8. (Notice that 3/8 is simple time, not compound, even though the lower number is 8.

What is a 9 4 time signature?

In compound time signatures, each beat is divided by three into equal groups of dotted notes, such as 6/8, which contains two dotted quarter note beats, or 9/4, which contains three dotted half note beats.

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In music, a part is a line of music which is played by one player or group of players (or sung by one or more singers). This is the usual meaning of the word “part” when talking about musical compositions.

When a group of instruments are all playing the same notes together — like the first violins in an orchestra, they are all playing the same part. The second violins are playing another part, the violas are playing yet another part, etc.

In a string quartet each of the four instruments plays a different part.

A group of singers who are all singing the tune together are singing in unison. If they divide into soprano, alto, tenor and bass, they are singing in four parts. The sopranos may be singing the tune and the altos, tenors and basses are providing the harmony underneath. This is called “4 part harmony”. If each of the four parts has its own share of the melody (or its own melody) it is polyphonic music. Polyphonic music is always in several parts.

Sometimes music for the piano or organ may be written in a strict number of parts, e.g. a 5 part fugue for the piano could also be performed on five different instruments because there are always exactly five different lines of music (although sometimes a part will have a rest, but this is always shown by rests in the music). Although written on two staves for the pianist (or three staves for an organist) it could be written on five staves: one stave for each part.

Another word for a musical part is voice. In most other European languages the word for part in this musical sense is the same as the normal word for voice e.g. in German: Stimme or French voix.

In general, the more parts there are in a musical composition the harder it is to compose because they all have to fit together to sound nice. The 16th century composer Thomas Tallis wrote a motet called Spem in alium which is in 40 parts. A choir of at least 40 people is needed to sing it, and even then each person will be singing something different to all the others.

Orchestral parts[change | change source]

A slightly different (but related) meaning of “part” can be the actual printed music that a player in an orchestra or band puts on the music stand to play from. The oboe part, for example, will just have the notes that the oboe plays. In contrast, the conductor has a musical score in which all the instrumental parts are written underneath one another.

”Part” meaning “section”[change | change source]

The word part can also be used in its normal meaning of section (i.e. a bit of something). We can say: “the first part of the movement is played just by the woodwind instruments”.

Sometimes a large work like an oratorio will be split into two or three “Parts” (in opera these would be called “Acts”).

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with the composer Arvo Pärt.

A part (or voice) generally refers to a single strand or melody or harmony of music within a larger ensemble or a polyphonic musical composition.
There are several senses in which the word is often used:

• the physical copy of printed or written sheet music given to any individual instrument or voice (as opposed to the full score which shows all parts in the same document).^[1] A musician’s part usually does not contain instructions for the other players in the ensemble, only instructions for that individual.
• the music played by any group of musicians who all perform in unison for a given piece; in a symphony orchestra, a dozen or more cello players may all play «the same part» even if they each have their own physical copy of the music.^[1] This sense of «part» does not require a written copy of the music; a bass player in a rock band «plays the bass part» even if there is no written version of the song.
• any individual melody that can be abstracted as continuous and independent from other notes being performed simultaneously. Within the music played by a single pianist, one can often identify outer parts (the top and bottom parts) or an inner part (those in between). On the other hand, within a choir, «outer parts» and «inner parts» would refer to music performed by different people.^[2] See the section Polyphony and Part-writing below.
• a section in the large-scale form of a piece. See the section Musical form below.

Polyphony and part-writing[edit]

Part-writing (or voice leading) is the composition of parts in consideration of harmony and counterpoint. In the context of polyphonic composition the term voice may be used instead of part to denote a single melodic line or textural layer. The term is generic, and is not meant to imply that the line should necessarily be vocal in character, instead referring to instrumentation, the function of the line within the counterpoint structure, or simply to register.^[3]

The historical development of polyphony and part-writing is a central thread through European music history. The earliest notated pieces of music in Europe were gregorian chant melodies. It appears that the Codex Calixtinus (12th century) contains the earliest extant decipherable part music.^[4] Many histories of music trace the development of new rules for dissonances, and shifting stylistic possibilities for relationships between parts.

In some places and time periods, part-writing has been systematized as a set of counterpoint rules taught to musicians as part of their early education. One notable example is Johann Fux’s Gradus ad Parnassum, which dictates a style of counterpoint writing that resembles the work of the famous Renaissance composer Palestrina. The standard for most Western music theory in the twentieth century is generalized from the work of Classical composers in the common practice period.^{[clarification needed]} For example, a recent general music textbook states,

Part writing is derived from four-voice chorales written by J.S. Bach. The late baroque era composer wrote a total of 371 harmonized chorales. Today most students’ reference Albert Riemenschneider’s 1941 compilation of Bach chorales.^[5]

Polyphony and part-writing are also present in many popular music and folk music traditions, although they may not be described as explicitly or systematically as they sometimes are in the Western tradition.^[6]

Musical form[edit]

In musical forms, a part may refer to a subdivision in the structure of a piece. Sometimes «part» is a title given by the composer or publisher to the main sections of a large-scale work, especially oratorios.^[7][8] For example, Handel’s Messiah, which is organized into Part I, Part II, and Part III, each of which contains multiple scenes and one or two dozen individual arias or choruses.

Other times, «part» is used to refer in a more general sense to any identifiable section of the piece. This is for example the case in the widely used ternary form, usually schematized as A–B–A. In this form the first and third parts (A) are musically identical, or very nearly so, while the second part (B) in some way provides a contrast with them. In this meaning of part, similar terms used are section, strain, or turn.^[9]

See also[edit]

• Partbook
• Cantus firmus

References[edit]

Definition of Play

Play is a literary form of writing for theatre, which narrates a story with elements of conflicts, tensions, and actions through dialogues of characters. For dramatic significance, it is divided into acts and scenes. The writers present their feelings, emotions, and ideas through their characters and make them speak.

The playwright uses various dramatic elements to create more profound meanings and enhance understanding of the audience. Also, they insert text, apart from the actual dialogues of the characters, to unfold the description of characters on stage, their natural action, and psychological intentions. In this way, the writers make their texts emotive, lifelike and thought-provoking.

Etymologically, ‘play’ is derived from the Greek word ‘paizo’ which means “to act” or “to perform.”

Elements of Play

A play has certain elements such as,

1. Plot: It refers to the order of the events that occur in the play.
2. Characters: The characters form a crucial part of the story and are interwoven with the plot of the play.
3. Dialogue: It refers to the conversation or interactions between the characters in the play.
4. Setting: It refers to the time and place where a story is set. It is one of the important parts of the play.
5. Conflict: It refers to the challenge main characters need to solve to achieve their goals.
6. Resolution: It is the unfolding or the solution to a complex issue in a story.

Types of Plays

There are many types of plays such as,

1. Tragedy: These types of plays end on a tragic note and most likely a character’s death.
2. Comedy: These types of plays are meant to amuse the audience, and they end on a happy note.
3. Domestic Play: These types of plays are based on the normal life of family and friends.
4. Tragicomedy: It is a fictional work comprises of both tragedy as well as comedy.
5. Melodrama: This type of has often exaggerated characters and episodes with songs and music for an emotive appeal to the audiences.

Examples of Play from Literature

Example #1

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Macbeth is a famous tragic play first published in 1623. The play centers around the character of Macbeth, whose desire to become the king of Scotland at any cost and it becomes the reason for his tragic downfall. At the outset, he is seen as a brave and loyal Thane to King Duncan. However, after hearing the prophecies of the witches, he becomes paranoid and greedy. Tempted by prophecies of the witches and with his wife’s motivation, he brutally kills King Duncan and becomes the king himself. Supernatural creatures also play a vital role in the play. They attack his weakness and tempt him to kill everyone who comes on his way to possess the crown. Out of greed, he also kills his friend, Banquo, Lady Macduff and her children and many other innocent souls to reach his goal. However, his evil deeds and greed pay him off in the form of his tragic demise. Hence, the play is the best example of tragedy because of the tragic flaw and moral weakness of the main character become the cause of his eventual downfall.

Example #2

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

Sophocles, a famous Greek tragedian, wrote Oedipus Rex which is one of the famous Greek tragedies till date. The tragic play recounts the story of Oedipus, who becomes the king of Thebes, and unknowingly fulfills the prophecy by murdering his father, Laius, and marry his mother, Jocasta.  The play opens when the King of Thebes, Oedipus addressing his people who are confused by an infliction, which is swiping them off. Therefore, they gather at the king’s court to ask him to rescue them from this plague. According to the oracle, this plague is caused because the people of Thebes have not arrested and punished the murderer of their late king. Believing in the oracle, Oedipus promises to find and punish the culprit. He tries to investigate and soon finds out the bitter truth from the Oracle Tiresias. Overcome with guilt and grief over his ill fate, Oedipus blinds himself.  Thus, this tragic play highlights the role of fate and chance which brings a disastrous end for their victims.

Example #3

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

A famous tragicomedy by William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice was first published between 1596 and 1599. It was first performed in 1605. Shakespeare successfully blends the aspects of tragedy and comedy in this fictional work. The play centers on the character of Antonio, a Venetian merchant. He takes a loan from a Jew, Shylock, to help his friend, Bassanio to marry Portia, a wealthy lady who lives in Belmont. He gives them three thousand ducats with no interest. Shylock puts a condition that if Antonio fails to return the amount he has to give a pound of his flesh and Antonio agrees, believing that his ships will return on time. Then they leave for Belmont where Bassanio wins Portia’s hand. Antonio fails to return the loan and Shylock almost prepares to cut out Antonio’s heart. But, Portia, a lawyer stands with Antonio and saves him from Shylock. This play is a perfect tragicomedy. The writer has presented unremitting tragedy in the first three acts. However, the last two acts comprise the restorative comedy.

Functions of the Play

A play functions as a tool to give reveal to one’s thoughts through performance in front of the live audience. Writers skillfully feature certain situations to make the audience laugh at funny incidents as well as feel pity and fear for unfortunate circumstances or incidents. It enables the audience to understand and feel a lot out of less description. Also, it is a convenient way to present different characters and their inner thoughts in dramas. Moreover, it enables the writers to dramatize the story in a way that events and characters are easily brought to life through a theatrical performance.

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