Spring from Le Quattro Stagioni, op. 8, no. 1 (Antonio Vivaldi) Flashcards
date of composition
1725
genre
solo violin concerto
source of inspiration
sonnets, most likely written by Vivaldi, describing the 4 seasons
performing forces
solo violin, strings, and continuo
1st mvmt: Key
E major
1st mvmt: Tempo
Allegro
1st mvmt: Time signature
C
1st mvmt: Form
ritornello form
1st mvmt: Poetic text
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.
1st mvmt: “Spring has arrived”
spirited rhythmic figures, bright character, celebratory dance-like quality
1st mvmt: “The birds celebrate with festive song”
high-pitched trills, repeated-note figures
1st mvmt: “Murmuring streams are caressed by gentle breezes”
Violins play a rapid, undulating figure
1st mvmt: “Storm clouds darken the sky, bringing thunder and lightning”
tremolando passages (quick repetition of notes) played by the violins evoke thunder; rising 32-note scales suggest lightning
2nd mvmt: Key
C sharp minor
2nd mvmt: Tempo
Largo
2nd mvmt: Time signature
3/4
2nd mvmt: Poetic text
“The goatherd sleeps in a flowery meadow with his faithful dog beside him. The leaves rustle gently”
2nd mvmt: Musical depiction
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.
3rd mvmt: Key
E major
3rd mvmt: Tempo
Allegro
3rd mvmt: Time signature
12/8
3rd mvmt: Form
ritornello form
3rd mvmt: Poetic text
“Nymphs and shepherd dance gaily to the festive sound of bagpipes as they welcome Spring”
3rd mvmt: Musical depiction
The bass notes suggest the drone of bagpipes, while the lilting compound meter creates a dance-like character
3rd mvmt: Style
rustic (rural, simple) elements (bagpipes, folk dance)
2nd mvmt: Orchestration
reduced orchestration (no cello or continuo)
2nd mvmt: Form
two-part structure
Review and Reflection
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)
