Spring from Le Quattro Stagioni, op. 8, no. 1 (Antonio Vivaldi)

Question 1

date of composition

Answer 1

1725

Question 2

genre

Answer 2

solo violin concerto

Question 3

source of inspiration

Answer 3

sonnets, most likely written by Vivaldi, describing the 4 seasons

Question 4

performing forces

Answer 4

solo violin, strings, and continuo

Question 5

1st mvmt: Key

Answer 5

E major

Question 6

1st mvmt: Tempo

Answer 6

Allegro

Question 7

1st mvmt: Time signature

Answer 7

C

Question 8

1st mvmt: Form

Answer 8

ritornello form

Question 9

1st mvmt: Poetic text

Answer 9

Spring has arrived. The birds celebrate with festive song; murmuring streams are caressed by gentle breezes. Storm clouds darken the sky, bringing thunder and lightning. After the storm, the birds resume their joyful singing.

Question 10

1st mvmt: “Spring has arrived”

Answer 10

spirited rhythmic figures, bright character, celebratory dance-like quality

Question 11

1st mvmt: “The birds celebrate with festive song”

Answer 11

high-pitched trills, repeated-note figures

Question 12

1st mvmt: “Murmuring streams are caressed by gentle breezes”

Answer 12

Violins play a rapid, undulating figure

Question 13

1st mvmt: “Storm clouds darken the sky, bringing thunder and lightning”

Answer 13

tremolando passages (quick repetition of notes) played by the violins evoke thunder; rising 32-note scales suggest lightning

Question 14

2nd mvmt: Key

Answer 14

C sharp minor

Question 15

2nd mvmt: Tempo

Answer 15

Largo

Question 16

2nd mvmt: Time signature

Answer 16

3/4

Question 17

2nd mvmt: Poetic text

Answer 17

“The goatherd sleeps in a flowery meadow with his faithful dog beside him. The leaves rustle gently”

Question 18

2nd mvmt: Musical depiction

Answer 18

The solo violin’s langorous melody depicts the sleeping goatherd. The violin’s dotted-note figure in parallel thirds suggests the rustling leaves and the viola ostinato represents the barking dog.

Question 19

3rd mvmt: Key

Answer 19

E major

Question 20

3rd mvmt: Tempo

Answer 20

Allegro

Question 21

3rd mvmt: Time signature

Answer 21

12/8

Question 22

3rd mvmt: Form

Answer 22

ritornello form

Question 23

3rd mvmt: Poetic text

Answer 23

“Nymphs and shepherd dance gaily to the festive sound of bagpipes as they welcome Spring”

Question 24

3rd mvmt: Musical depiction

Answer 24

The bass notes suggest the drone of bagpipes, while the lilting compound meter creates a dance-like character

Question 25

3rd mvmt: Style

Answer 25

rustic (rural, simple) elements (bagpipes, folk dance)

Question 26

2nd mvmt: Orchestration

Answer 26

reduced orchestration (no cello or continuo)

Question 27

2nd mvmt: Form

Answer 27

two-part structure

Question 28

Review and Reflection

Answer 28

fortspinnung (a continuously unfolding melody), clearly defined metric structure (12/8), motoric rhythm, idomatic and virtuosic writing, ornamentation, improvisation (basso continuo, mvmts 1 and 3)