Editing Overture (section)

== Italian overture ==
{{Main|Italian overture}}

In Italy, a distinct form called "overture" arose in the 1680s, became established particularly through the operas of [[Alessandro Scarlatti]], and spread throughout Europe, supplanting the French form as the standard operatic overture by the mid-18th century.<ref name="auto2">{{harvnb|Fisher|2001}}</ref> Its stereotypical form is in three generally [[homophony|homophonic]] [[Movement (music)|movements]]: fast–slow–fast. The opening movement is normally in duple metre and a major key; the slow movement in earlier examples is usually quite short, and sometimes in a contrasting key; the concluding movement is dancelike, most often with rhythms of the [[gigue]] or [[minuet]], and returns to the key of the opening section. As the form evolved, the first movement often incorporated fanfare-like elements and took on the pattern of so-called "sonatina form" ([[sonata form]] without a development section), and the slow section became more extended and lyrical.<ref name="auto2"/> Italian overtures were often detached from their operas and played as independent concert pieces. In this context, they became important in the early history of the [[symphony]].<ref>{{harvnb|Larue|2001}}</ref>