(Part 1) Unit 1: Vivaldi and The Four Seasons Flashcards
_______ Vivaldi (____ - ____)
Antonio
1678
1741
Vivaldi was an _______ _________, _________, and highly prolific composer
Italian violinist
Conductor
What was Vivaldi nicknamed?
Il prete rosso (the red priest)
Vivaldi regarded himself as a composer of what?
Where does his fame largely rest on today?
Opera
Contributions to Baroque concerto repertoire
For close to ______ years, Vivaldi served as ______ ______ and ___________ at where?
Fourty
Violin master
Choirmaster
Conservatorio Ospedale della Pieta, Venice, Italy
List the musical style and contributions of Vivaldi (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
What were the three main genres of Vivaldi’s compositions? (Number)
Concertos (over 500)
Operas (over 40)
Sacred vocal
Give examples of the operas and sacred vocals Vivaldi composed
Opera: Orlando Furioso, Griselda
Sacred vocal: Oratorios (Juditha Triumphans), motets, Gloria
What was the Conservatorio Ospedale della Pieta? (2)
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
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)
Cremona, Italy
Amati and Guarneri families, and Antonio Stradivari
Give the genre, composition date and performing forces of The Four Seasons, op. 8
Genre: Solo Violin Concerto
Composition Date: 1725
Performing Forces: Solo violin, strings, and continuo
What was the subtitle of the collection The Four Seasons?
The Contest between Harmony and Inspiration (Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’invenzione)
What was the source of inspiration (program) of The Four Seasons?
Sonnets, most likely written by Vivaldi, describing the four seasons of the year
Give the key, form, tempo and meter of Vivaldi’s Spring, 1st movement
Key: E Major
Form: Ritornello form
Tempo: Allegro
Meter: 4/4
What are the poetic images and structure of the 1st movement of Vivaldi’s Spring? (4)
Joyful spring
Birds singing (the theme)
Murmur of breeze (the theme)
Thunder and lightning (the theme)
Give the key, form, tempo and meter of Vivaldi’s Spring, 2nd movement
Key: C sharp minor
Form: Two-part structure
Tempo: Largo
Meter: 3/4
What are the poetic images of the 2nd movement of Vivaldi’s Spring? (2)
Sleeping goatherd
With faithful dog barking at his side
In the 1st movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:
How is “spring has arrived” depicted? (3)
Spirited rhythmic figures
Bright character
Celebratory dance-like quality
In the 1st movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:
How is “birds celebrate with festive song” depicted? (2)
High-pitched trills
Repeated-note figures
In the 1st movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:
How is “murmuring streams caressed by gentle breezes” depicted? (1)
Violins play a rapid undulating figure
In the 1st movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:
How is “storm clouds, thunder and lightning” depicted? (2)
Tremolando passages by violins evoke thunder
Rising thirty-second note scales suggest lightning
What does tremolando passages mean?
Quick repetition of notes
What word does “concerto” come from?
“Concertare”, Italian for “to reach agreement”
What is a concerto?
A composition in which one or more solo instruments were contrasted with an instrumental ensemble
What is a small ensemble known as?
Concertino
What is the full orchestra known as?
Ripieno
In the 2nd movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:
How is “the sleeping goatherd” depicted?
The solo violin’s languorous melody
In the 2nd movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:
How is the “rustling leaves” depicted?
The violin’s dotted-note figure in parallel thirds
In the 2nd movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:
How is the “barking dog” depicted?
The viola ostinato
What are the poetic images of the 3rd movement of Vivaldi’s Spring?
Nymph and shepherds dance to the sound of rustic bagpipes
In the 3rd movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:
How is the “drone of bag pipes” depicted?
The bass pedal point
In the 3rd movement of Vivaldi’s Spring:
How is the “dance” depicted?
The lilting compound meter of the piece
