Look up: overture

1. Overture
   The instrumental introduction to a musical drama or oratorio; often the overture presents themes or
   Found on http://www.greensboroopera.org/oft-educa
   
   
2. Overture
   An overture is a piece of music for the opening of a concert. For a considerable period, overtures existed only in the form of a short instrumental introduction to an operatic work. Lully was the first to develop the overture to dimensions of importance, and the form originated by him was still furt...
   Found on http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/brow
   
   
3. Overture
   The music which begins a performance.
   Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/visitor-contrib
   
   
4. overture
   [n] - a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others 2. [n] - orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio
   Found on http://www.webdictionary.co.uk/definitio
   
   
5. Overture
   A short orchestral work written to either introduce an opera or ballet, or to begin a concert programme.
   Found on http://www.cbso.co.uk/?page=concerts/glo
   
   
6. Overture
   Opening, a musical introduction
   Found on http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/thesoundex
   
   
7. Overture
   O'ver·ture [ Old French overture , French ouverture , from Old French ovrir , French ouvrir . See Overt .] 1. An opening or aperture; a recess; a recess; a chamber. [ Obsolete] Spenser. 'The cave's inmost overture .' ...
   Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/O/58
   
   
8. Overture
   O'ver·ture transitive verb To make an overture to; as, to overture a religious body on some subject.
   Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/O/58
   
   
9. overture
   advance noun a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others; `she rejected his advances`
   Found on http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/web
   
   
10. overture
    prelude noun something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows; `training is a necessary preliminary to employment`; `drinks were the overture to dinner`
    Found on http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/web
    
    
11. Overture
    • A proposal; an offer; a proposition formally submitted for consideration, acceptance, or rejection. • (v. t.) To make an overture to; as, to overture a religious body on some subject. • A composition, for a full orchestra, designed as an introduction to an oratorio, opera, or ballet, or as an independent piece; -- called in t...
    Found on http://thinkexist.com/dictionary/meaning
    
    
12. overture
    musical composition, usually the orchestral introduction to a musical work (often dramatic), but also an independent instrumental work. Early operas ... [8 related articles]
    Found on http://www.britannica.com/eb/a-z/o/42
    
    
13. overture
    overture, instrumental musical composition written as an introduction to an opera, ballet, oratorio, musical, or play. The earliest Italian opera overtures were simply pieces of orchestral music and were called sinfonie. Jean Baptiste Lully standardized the French overture, using an opening section ...
    Found on http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/ent/A08371
    
    
14. overture
    In music, the opening piece of a concert or opera. It has two roles: settling the audience before the main music starts, and allowing the conductor and musicians to become acquainted with the acoustics of a concert auditorium. See also prelude. The use of an overture in opera began during the 17th century; the `Italian` overture c...
    Found on http://www.talktalk.co.uk/reference/ency
    
    
15. Overture
    `Overture` (from the French ouverture, meaning opening) in music is the instrumental introduction to a dramatic, choral or, occasionally, instrumental composition. During the early Romantic era, composers such as Beethoven and Mendelssohn began to use the term to refer to instrumental, progra...
    Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overture
    
    
16. Overture
    (The Who song) `Overture` is a song by English rock band The Who, written by Pete Townshend. The track is one of three instrumental tracks released on Tommy; the other two being "Underture" and "Sparks". The song is considered to be an early example of Synth-rock an...
    Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overture