- published: 09 Jan 2013
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Reprise( /rəˈpriːz/ rə-PREEZ; from French) is a fundamental device in the history of art. In literature, a reprise consists of the rewriting of another work; in music, a reprise is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the 18th century—was simply any repeated section, such as is indicated by beginning and ending repeat signs.
A reprise is to recover forward from a lunge into another lunge often used in combination with a feint to deceive an opponent or against an opponent who retreats rapidly without counter attacking or establishing right of way in foil or sabre fencing.
In musical theatre, a reprise is any repetition of an earlier song or theme, usually with changed lyrics to reflect the development of the story. Also, it is common for songs sung by the same character or regarding the same narrative motif to have similar tunes and lyrics, or incorporate similar tunes and lyrics. For example, in the stage version of Les Misérables, a song of the primary antagonist ("Javert's Suicide") is similar in lyrics and exactly the same in tune to a soliloquy of the protagonist when he was in a similar emotional state ("What Have I Done?"). At the end of the song, an instrumental portion is played from an earlier soliloquy of the antagonist, in which he was significantly more confident. Les Misérables in general reprises many musical themes.
Hanging down from the ceiling ... the old pendulum now
rests,
Time stands still ... - like iron - ... in the house of
the dead.
Our fragile souls lie weeping, sealed in sleep and balls
of lead,
All flowers here are dust, but we can still recall their
scent.
In filth, decay and disrelish the leg-less man lay
kneeling,
Weeping petrified, out of his mind ... - half buried, yet
still breathing.
His lips are soft like powder and so cold ... colder than
snow;
Mingled with the dust he fell, all paralysed by flesh and
bone.
"Forgive us, please, for we're long fallen",
Shivering carcass shuns the light,
Ancient bodies' fallen heaven, a dark star in a fallen
sky.
"Flow my tears !" , the angel said,
He forced a smile than bowed his head,
How much he wished that he could die ... -
Tore his old wings off with a sigh.