Monteverdi and Wagner- Dynamics & Articulation

Toccata by Monteverdi and the Prelude to Act I of Das Rheingold by Wagner have instrumentation in common, with the prominent brass and string instruments. However, they are very different in the musical elements of dynamics and articulation. Toccata is very staccato and mostly forte, with some crescendos and decrescendos for shaping, by mostly loud throughout the piece. The Prelude, on the other hand, is one continuing crescendo. It starts out extremely soft and builds to a fuller and louder sound, and is completely legato. These musical differences provide different emotional triggers from the songs and show the difference in mood behind the pieces.