Vivaldi & Spring

Question 1

What year was Vivaldi born? Which year did he pass away? What is Vivaldi’s musical style?

Answer 1

Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741)

• contributed to the development of the 3-mvt concerto structure
• leader in establishing ritornello form
• idiomatic writing for strings
• exploited string virtuosity through technically demanding writing such as rapid passagework, string crossings, arpeggio figurations, and double stops

Question 2

State the background information. Provide the following: Genre, composition date, collection subtitle, inspiration source, and performing forces.

Answer 2

Genre: Concerto
Composition Date: 1725
Collection Subtitle: The Contest between Harmony and Inspiration (Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’invenzione)
Inspiration Source: sonnets, most likely written by Vivaldi himself
Performing Forces: solo violin, strings, and continuo

Question 3

Name the following in the first movement:

• Key
• Form
• Tempo
• Meter
• Text

Answer 3

Key: E Major
Form: Ritornello
Tempo: Allegro
Meter: 4/4
Text: 1st Stanza

Question 4

Musical depiction of “Spring has arrived!”

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Musical depiction of “The birds celebrate with festive song.”

Answer 5

high-pitched trills. repeated note figures

Question 6

Musical depiction of “murmuring streams are caressed by gentle breezes.”

Answer 6

violins play a rapid undulating figure

Question 7

Musical depiction of “storm clouds darken the sky, bringing thunder and lightning.”

Answer 7

tremolando passage played by violins evoke thunder and rising thirty-second note scales represent lightning

Question 8

Name the following in the second movement:

• key
• form
• tempo
• meter
• poetic text

Answer 8

Key: C# minor (relative minor)
Form: Two-part structure
Tempo: Largo
Meter: 3/4
Poetic text: 3rd stanza

important note: reduced orchestration is featured, and cellos do not play

Question 9

Musical depiction of “the goatherd sleeps in a meadow beside his dog; the leaves rustle gently.”

Answer 9

• solo violin’s languorous melody depicts the sleeping goatherd, the violin’s dotted figure in parallel thirds suggest the rustling leaves; the viola ostinato represents the barking dog

Question 10

Name the following in the third movement:

• key
• form
• tempo
• meter
• poetic text

Answer 10

Key: E Major
Form: Ritornello
Tempo: Allegro
Meter: 12/8
Poetic Text: 4th stanza

Question 11

Musical depiction of “Nymphs and shepherds dance to the sound of rustic bagpipes.”

Answer 11

the bass pedal point suggests the drone of bagpipes while the lilting compound meter creates a dance-like character

Question 12

Concerto

Answer 12

• popular instrumental genre of the Baroque era for soloist/soloists and orchestra
• generally in three movements: fast-slow-fast
• frequently employs ritornello form
• intended to showcase the virtuosity of the soloists

Question 13

Ritornello form

Answer 13

• structure employed in the first and third movements of the Baroque concerto
• the opening passage (ritornello) is restated throughout the movement, serving as a refrain

Question 14

Ripieno

Answer 14

• Italian for “full” or “complete”

- a term used to denote the use of the full orchestra in the baroque concerto

Question 15

Ostinato

Answer 15

• Italian for “obstinate” or “persistent”

- rhythmic or melodic pattern repeated for an extended period

Question 16

Pedal Point

Answer 16

• a note, or a series of notes, sustained through harmony changes in other parts

Question 17

Idiomatic Writing

Answer 17

• highlights the unique technical capabilities of an instrument in the style of writing
• opposite of generic
• developed in the Baroque era

Question 18

Programmatic Writing

Answer 18

• music with a descriptive element, inspired by extramusical associations, like a story or painting
• evolved into a significant feature of 19th-century instrumental writing: program music