Musical+Casting+of+Desdemona



"Glasgow Love Theme" by Craig Armstrong Act 1, Scene 3 (When Desdemona makes her entrance, specifically)

** OTHELLO: ** Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, my very noble and approved good masters, that I have ta’en away this old man’s daughter, It is most true; true, I have married her…Yet, by your gracious patience, I will a round, unvarnished tale deliver of my whole course of love: what drugs, what charms, what conjuration, and what might magic-For such proceeding I am charged withal- I won his daughter.
 * BRABANTIO ** : A maiden never bold, of spirit so still and quiet that her motion blushed at herself, and she, in spite of nature, of years, or country, credit, everything, to fall in love with what she feared to look on? It is a judgment maimed and most imperfect that will confess perfection so could err against all rules of nature, and must be driven to find out practices of cunning Hell.

· Othello tells the Duke that he used to go to Brabantio’s house and tell him stories of his rough past in battle, and that Desdemona would listen to his stories. She became curious and was very intrigued by his “battles, sieges, fortunes” that she felt pity and fell in love; no witchcraft, no spells. // Desdemona enters to present her point of view //

[|[Glasgow Love Theme begins to play]]

** DESDEMONA: ** My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty. To you I am bound for life and education. My life and education both do learn me how to respect you: you are the lord of duty. I am hitherto your daughter, but here’s my husband, and so much duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father, so much challenge that I may profess due to the Moor my lord.

[Music fades]

** BRABANTIO: ** God be with you. I have done. Please it your grace, on to state affairs.

Explanation: Desdemona’s character, especially in this scene where she first speaks, tells the audience exactly what type of character she is, and will be from the very moment she opens her mouth till her last words when she dies. “Glasgow Love Theme,” from the movie __Love Actually__, portrays an innocent soft melody that is very slow and drawn out. Desdemona’s first spoken words to her father are powerful, as she tells him that she will be loyal to Othello. Her statement and devotion to the Moor demonstrates her strong character, and these spoken lines can be visualized as being read very slowly and with passion to emphasis how dedicated she is to her husband. The melody is dragged out in the beginning, which can be connected to her speech because despite its short length, it has a big message and would take time to understand or accept. The music is graceful as Desdemona is described throughout the play, faster in the middle as if to demonstrate her conflict with Othello, but remains passive and strong, while at the end of the novel she remains loyal to Othello telling everyone he did not kill her. The music seems to be in control and never goes wild, as Desdemona never loses self-control in the novel. The ending note of “Glasgow Love Theme” is exaggerated and held, leaving a powerful moment of silence, which Brabantio uses to take in what his passionate daughter just told him.

**P.S. The video clip is irrelevant; only focus on the song itself.**