Spring from The Four Seasons

Analysis

Four seasons published in 1725 (late Baroque).

Three Movements Solo Concerto – for solo violin and orchestra

(strings and harpsichord/continuo) Programme Music Ritornello Form Homophonic

Spring – Antonio Vivaldi

Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, "La primavera" (Spring)◦ Allegro◦ Largo e pianissimo sempre◦ Allegro pastorale

Movements

A solo concerto is a concerto in which a single soloist is accompanied by an orchestra. It is the most frequent type of concerto. It originated in the Baroque Period (c. 1600–1750) as an alternative to the traditional concertino (solo group of instruments) in a concerto grosso.

Solo Concerto

music that is intended to evoke images or convey the impression of events.◦ For example, the Four Seasons depict the scenery

and feeling of the different seasons.

Other examples of programme music would be ◦ Berlioz – Symphony Fantastique◦ Beethoven – Pastoral Symphony (no. 6)◦ Dvorak – Symphony no. 9 (New World)◦ Mussorgsky – Night on Bald Mountain

Programme Music

A ritornello (Italian; "little return") is a recurring passage in Baroque music. The first or final movement of a concerto may be in "ritornello form", in which the ritornello is the opening theme, always played tutti, which returns in different keys throughout the movement.

Often favoured in solo concerti and concerti grossi in a ‘tutti-solo-tutti-solo-tutti’ pattern. The ritornello, or the ‘tutti’ section, functions as a refrain or chorus while the solo sections may expand upon the short melodic lines of the tutti.

Ritornello Form

In music, homophony is a texture in which two or more parts move together in harmony, the relationship between them creating chords.

Homophony

Terminology DefinitionAllegro Quick, a movement in lively tempo.

Tasto solo Usually on the continuo part, to indicate that a note or section should be played on its own, without harmony.

Con sordino With the mute.

Chromaticism Based on an octave of 12 semitones rather than a diatonic scale.

Pedal Points Sustained note usually in the bass, around or above which the other parts proceed.

Drone Where a note or chord is continuously sounded throughout most or all of a piece.

Imitation Polyphonic technique in which the melodic shape of one voice is repeated by another, usually at a different pitch.

Terraced Dynamics Sudden changes in volume level such as forte then drop to piano and then a sudden return to forte.

Graduated Dynamics

Tremolo Rapid reiteration. Usually on a single tone. Trembling action of a bow on a string instrument.

Parallel Thirds A sequence of chords consisting of intervals that do not change as the chord moves.

Episodes Intermediate passage. Ex. Section of a fugue or rondo between entries of the subject.

Cantabile "singable" or "songlike". In instrumental music, it is a particular style of playing designed to imitate the human voice.

Terminology in IGCSE Analysis