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→The Magic Flute and Freemasonry: removed red-link
==The Magic Flute and Freemasonry==
==The Magic Flute and Freemasonry==
An active Freemason who also composed several other works for Masonic gatherings, Mozart inserted much Masonic symbolism into the work's musical accompaniment. Foremost among these is the prevalence of the number three: the [[overture]] begins mysteriously with three slow [[chord (music)|chords]] separated by long pauses; the [[key (music)|key]] of the overture (and much of the opera) is E-flat major, which has three flats; there are three fairies who always sing together, as well as three boys who appear three times in the course of the story. Additionally, the [[orchestra]]tion contains a pair of a rather obscure instrument, the [[basset-horn]], which was considered a Masonic instrument and played at meetings.
An active Freemason who also composed several other works for Masonic gatherings, Mozart inserted much Masonic symbolism into the work's musical accompaniment. Foremost among these is the prevalence of the number three: the [[overture]] begins mysteriously with three slow [[chord (music)|chords]] separated by long pauses; the [[key (music)|key]] of the overture (and much of the opera) is E-flat major, which has three flats; there are three fairies who always sing together, as well as three boys who appear three times in the course of the story. Additionally, the [[orchestra]]tion contains a pair of a rather obscure instrument, the basset-horn, which was considered a Masonic instrument and played at meetings.
The text contains numerous Masonic symbols as well (Schickaneder, the librettist, was also a Freemason.). The elements of initiation includes three trials. The [[The Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] values of reason, self-control, and temperance are underscored in the dialogue and in Sarastro's arias.
The text contains numerous Masonic symbols as well (Schickaneder, the librettist, was also a Freemason.). The elements of initiation includes three trials. The [[The Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] values of reason, self-control, and temperance are underscored in the dialogue and in Sarastro's arias.