Stravinsky - Structure (Introduction) Flashcards
What does representation mean in a musical sense?
When the music either: (a) directly mimics something in real life - e.g. a violin doing trills can sound like a bird; or (b) the music is symbolic of something - e.g. music with a thick texture may represent something that is heavier.
What does the introduction section represent?
Gradual awakening of the earth after the long Russian winter.
How does melodic material give structure to the introduction?
There are a number of melodic ideas. Each one acts as a ‘marker’ for a section of the movement.
What are the main melodic ideas in the introduction?
Bassoon - Opening.
Cor Anglais - Figure 2
Oboe - Figure 5
At Figure 3 what happens with the melodic material?
There is alternation between the bassoon melody and the oboe melody.
How does the texture contribute/shape/frame the structure of the introduction?
The opening is distinctly monophonic. As the movement progresses, the texture becomes thicker, with more parts added, reaching the chaotic polyphony by the end.
How is ostinati used for structural purposes?
Stravinsky takes an ostinato and develops the music by combining it with other ostinati to build the piece.
What is the importance of the high pitched melodic idea that first enters after figure 9?
Its first four notes dominate the texture and the music builds to a climax.
Describe how the ending section of the introduction is clear.
The texture reduces dramatically, the bassoon plays its solo again.
How does the end of the introduction anticipate the next movement of the piece (Augurs of Spring)?
The next movement is anticipated as we hear the four-note ostinato theme in pizzicato violins just before the end of teh section.
What effect does having the 4 note ostinato in the violins at the end of the introduction have on the structure?
This creates a smooth/slick join into the next movement of the piece (Augurs of Spring). Arguably it is also like a ‘warning’ of what is to come.
