<P> The orchestra has also provided an instrumental overture before the singers come onstage since the 1600s . Peri 's Euridice opens with a brief instrumental ritornello , and Monteverdi 's L'Orfeo ( 1607 ) opens with a toccata , in this case a fanfare for muted trumpets . The French overture as found in Jean - Baptiste Lully 's operas consist of a slow introduction in a marked `` dotted rhythm '' , followed by a lively movement in fugato style . The overture was frequently followed by a series of dance tunes before the curtain rose . This overture style was also used in English opera , most notably in Henry Purcell 's Dido and Aeneas . Handel also uses the French overture form in some of his Italian operas such as Giulio Cesare . </P>
<P> The orchestra has also provided an instrumental overture before the singers come onstage since the 1600s . Peri 's Euridice opens with a brief instrumental ritornello , and Monteverdi 's L'Orfeo ( 1607 ) opens with a toccata , in this case a fanfare for muted trumpets . The French overture as found in Jean - Baptiste Lully 's operas consist of a slow introduction in a marked `` dotted rhythm '' , followed by a lively movement in fugato style . The overture was frequently followed by a series of dance tunes before the curtain rose . This overture style was also used in English opera , most notably in Henry Purcell 's Dido and Aeneas . Handel also uses the French overture form in some of his Italian operas such as Giulio Cesare . </P>
which descriptions are part of the definition of french overture
which descriptions are part of the definition of french overture
a slow introduction in a marked `` dotted rhythm '' a lively movement in fugato style
a slow introduction in a marked `` dotted rhythm '' a lively movement in fugato style