Musical Motives
Mascagni's opera "Iris" does not depend much on Motives. It has more
use of the flowing melodic idea and special orchestration (his
orchestra in this opera includes gongs, celesta, glockenspiel, bells
and chimes). However a few recurring Motives are of importance in this
opera. Here are four of the most important, in notes and Real Audio
sound. Click the Real Audio links to hear the music, and right-click
to open in new window the music notes if you want to see them in
original size (much bigger...). Enjoy!
Iris's theme
The theme connected with Iris. Heard when she first appears on stage, and follows her throughout the opera. This is a true "Leitmotif".
Hear Iris's theme
Dragon theme
Iris had a dream full of "dragons, monsters, Flying visions and crawling snakes" ("un sogno tutto pieno di draghi, mostri, Volanti chimere E di striscianti colubri"). The intensely chromatic theme underlining these words appears from time to time later on in the opera, as Iris's unconscious fears of the world rise up to the surface.
Hear the 'dragon' theme
The first lights
This is one of the several important themes that appear in the prologue to the opera, depicting the first lights of dawn (later on appears another theme, the flower theme, that uses part of the first lights theme too, but with much brighter music).
Hear the First-Lights theme
The Dawn theme
First heard in the prologue, this is perhaps the most important theme in the opera. The theme itself and hints of it appear many times throughout the score. Its bright flourish is unmistakable.
Hear the Dawn Theme
Note: Both the firstlights theme and the dawn theme appear later in the prologue (and the end of the opera) sung by the chorus.
