mental measures of Spanish dance music. Also the death theme of the chromatic scales and augmented 2nds enhance to Carmens later fate. She sings the Habanera, which is a mixture of sensual music, an oral warning to all. Beware of me if I give you my heart and she sings about the fickleness of love. Don Jose is very uninterested in Carmens song. Carmen becomes quite fascinated and throws a flower at Jose. Carmen then leaves to go into the cigarette factory. Jose decides to pick up the flower and Micaela returns with money and a letter from his mother. The letter urges that Jose marry Micaela. In this scene between Don Jose and Micaela there is an interruption in the mood and music. Here a chromatic downward scale in the music starts and where Jose starts singing of an evil spirit which is we assume represents Carmen. Micaela leaves Jose and there is a sudden accident at the cigarette factory. Zuniga sends Jose to oversee what had happened. Jose comes out with Carmen, she apparently she had attacked and ended up stabbing another girl. Zuniga questions her but Carmen mocks him with ridiculous humming. Carmen is revealed to be violent and mocking. Zuniga orders Jose to tie Carmens hands for she is to be arrested. Carmen now knows that Jose is in love with her and she persuades him to untie her. As they walk off to jail she pushes Jose and makes a run for it. Zuniga has no choice but to arrest Jose for his insolent behavior. This begins the characterization of Jos and his gradual decline from a simple soldier's honesty through insubordination and desertion. The finale of Act I replays the same music as in the Habanera.The Entracte music has a very slow military feel and there is some of the same music as in the Prelude. The music features solo bassoons, clarinet, flute; all sharing the same theme. The second act takes place in Lillas Pastias Tavern. Here Carmen with her gypsy friends, Frasquita and Mercedes, sing ...
