human
All hail speeches. The orchestration is full of sinister mystery here; but, on Macbeth's words,
gpt
Two truths are told As happy prologue to the swelling act Of the imperial theme, the music becomes, for a time, triumphant, though very wild, and breaks off suddenly for a Lady Macbeth scene. She is reading Macbeth's letter, and these words are printed in the score:
human
This have I thought good to deliver thee. Lay it to thy heart, and fare thee well. The subjects here used are the Witches' prophetic theme and a passionate Lady Macbeth one. All the music in this section is highly emotional, dramatic, and brilliantly clever. On Macbeth's words,
gpt
If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well It were done quickly, a gruesome little passage for strings and bassoons heralds the King's feast music, consisting of curious disjointed wood-wind passages, till Macbeth's words,
human
Is this a dagger which I see before me? , when the music seems to drive him to the murder. After the words,
gpt
Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell That summons thee to Heaven or to Hell, there are two intensely dramatic bars; and then, _pianissimo_, is heard the Witches' prophetic _motif_ on the cornet and horn--a fine {65} bit of musical word-painting. Now comes the longest episode in the work, a magnificent Witches' dance, the composer employing nearly every resource of the modern orchestra. Then, in the distance, is heard the march of the English army, very stirring and martial. At the end of this passage, Macbeth says:
human
It's ripe for shaking, and the powers above Put on their instruments.