(Part 1) Unit 1: Vivaldi and The Four Seasons

Question 1

_______ Vivaldi (____ - ____)

Answer 1

Antonio
1678
1741

Question 2

Vivaldi was an _______ _________, _________, and highly prolific composer

Answer 2

Italian violinist

Conductor

Question 3

What was Vivaldi nicknamed?

Answer 3

Il prete rosso (the red priest)

Question 4

Vivaldi regarded himself as a composer of what?

Where does his fame largely rest on today?

Answer 4

Opera

Contributions to Baroque concerto repertoire

Question 5

For close to ______ years, Vivaldi served as ______ ______ and ___________ at where?

Answer 5

Fourty
Violin master
Choirmaster
Conservatorio Ospedale della Pieta, Venice, Italy

Question 6

List the musical style and contributions of Vivaldi (6)

Answer 6

Contributed to the development of the three-movement concerto structure
Leader in establishing ritornello form
Developed idiomatic writing for strings
Exploited string virtuosity through technically demanding writing, including rapid passagework, string crossings, arpeggio figurations, and double stops
Incorporated programmatic writing, descriptive titles
Frequent use of sequences

Question 7

What were the three main genres of Vivaldi’s compositions? (Number)

Answer 7

Concertos (over 500)
Operas (over 40)
Sacred vocal

Question 8

Give examples of the operas and sacred vocals Vivaldi composed

Answer 8

Opera: Orlando Furioso, Griselda

Sacred vocal: Oratorios (Juditha Triumphans), motets, Gloria

Question 9

What was the Conservatorio Ospedale della Pieta? (2)

Answer 9

A charitable institution for abandoned girls that offered exceptional musical training
This school’s performances served as an integral part of musical life in Venice and were held in the highest regard throughout Europe

Question 10

Vivaldi’s career unfolded against a backdrop of makes of fine string instruments or luthiers.
In which town most notably?
Who were the master builders? (3)

Answer 10

Cremona, Italy

Amati and Guarneri families, and Antonio Stradivari

Question 11

Give the genre, composition date and performing forces of The Four Seasons, op. 8

Answer 11

Genre: Solo Violin Concerto
Composition Date: 1725
Performing Forces: Solo violin, strings, and continuo

Question 12

What was the subtitle of the collection The Four Seasons?

Answer 12

The Contest between Harmony and Inspiration (Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’invenzione)

Question 13

What was the source of inspiration (program) of The Four Seasons?

Answer 13

Sonnets, most likely written by Vivaldi, describing the four seasons of the year

Question 14

Give the key, form, tempo and meter of Vivaldi’s Spring, 1st movement

Answer 14

Key: E Major
Form: Ritornello form
Tempo: Allegro
Meter: 4/4

Question 15

What are the poetic images and structure of the 1st movement of Vivaldi’s Spring? (4)

Answer 15

Joyful spring
Birds singing (the theme)
Murmur of breeze (the theme)
Thunder and lightning (the theme)

Question 16

Give the key, form, tempo and meter of Vivaldi’s Spring, 2nd movement

Answer 16

Key: C sharp minor
Form: Two-part structure
Tempo: Largo
Meter: 3/4

Question 17

What are the poetic images of the 2nd movement of Vivaldi’s Spring? (2)

Answer 17

Sleeping goatherd

With faithful dog barking at his side

Question 18

In the 1st movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:

How is “spring has arrived” depicted? (3)

Answer 18

Spirited rhythmic figures
Bright character
Celebratory dance-like quality

Question 19

In the 1st movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:

How is “birds celebrate with festive song” depicted? (2)

Answer 19

High-pitched trills

Repeated-note figures

Question 20

In the 1st movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:

How is “murmuring streams caressed by gentle breezes” depicted? (1)

Answer 20

Violins play a rapid undulating figure

Question 21

In the 1st movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:

How is “storm clouds, thunder and lightning” depicted? (2)

Answer 21

Tremolando passages by violins evoke thunder

Rising thirty-second note scales suggest lightning

Question 22

What does tremolando passages mean?

Answer 22

Quick repetition of notes

Question 23

What word does “concerto” come from?

Answer 23

“Concertare”, Italian for “to reach agreement”

Question 24

What is a concerto?

Answer 24

A composition in which one or more solo instruments were contrasted with an instrumental ensemble

Question 25

What is a small ensemble known as?

Answer 25

Concertino

Question 26

What is the full orchestra known as?

Answer 26

Ripieno

Question 27

In the 2nd movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:

How is “the sleeping goatherd” depicted?

Answer 27

The solo violin’s languorous melody

Question 28

In the 2nd movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:

How is the “rustling leaves” depicted?

Answer 28

The violin’s dotted-note figure in parallel thirds

Question 29

In the 2nd movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:

How is the “barking dog” depicted?

Answer 29

The viola ostinato

Question 30

What are the poetic images of the 3rd movement of Vivaldi’s Spring?

Answer 30

Nymph and shepherds dance to the sound of rustic bagpipes

Question 31

In the 3rd movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:

How is the “drone of bag pipes” depicted?

Answer 31

The bass pedal point

Question 32

In the 3rd movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:

How is the “dance” depicted?

Answer 32

The lilting compound meter of the piece