tury, opera had undergone a transformation. The world of court opera began to move into the realm of public entertainment: "After a somewhat patchy existence in Florence, Rome and various northern cities, the new theatrical genre was brought to Venice--where it took on the characteristics of a public entertainment with a paying, not just invited, audience . . . " Whereas elaborate and fantastic features such as scenic effects grew in complexity, the opera orchestra underwent a reduction in numbers and in instrumental color. These changes were welcomed by composers because it meant that the strength of the composer's music was inherent in the notes instead of the external appurtenances.
Although the orchestra's role in Venetian opera was small, it was still an important one. Most of the orchestras consisted largely of string instruments. Composers relied more on descriptive phrases than musical instruments to achieve most of their dramatic effects. This meant that when or
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