LO: To analyze a Concerto
Context: The Four Seasons by Vivaldi Success Criteria: I can listen to a Concerto I can identify the various movements of a Concerto I can play the principal theme of Winter on my recorder I can choose a Season, compose an 8 bar melody and play it on my recorder
Antonio Vivaldi
Inspiration: Mantua (Italy)
What is a concerto?
A musical composition in 3 movements
Concerto No 1: Spring Allegro Largo
What does the music make you feel? Allegro 3’27
What instruments can you hear?
String orchestra
Spring begins with the crispness and clarity of a cloudless spring day and features singing birds and murmuring streams. A sudden quick thunderstorm invades, but birdsong soon regains control.
Largo 3’21 What do you think this music describes? What instrument is the soloist?
Allegro 4’28 What does this music makes you feel?
Can you hear the instruments that play the drone?
Concerto No 2: Summer Allegro Adagio Presto
Allegro non molto 5’48 How do you feel when you hear this music?
It begins slowly, almost as if it’s too hot to move It begins slowly, almost as if it’s too hot to move. The birds sing lazily, and the air is mostly still until a breeze whips up, a warning of a gathering storm.
Can you recognize the song of these birds? What instrument plays them?
The song birds Cuckoo Dove Goldfinch
Can you hear the wind?
Adagio 2’16 How would you describe this music?
What instrument plays the sleeping shepherd? What do you think interrupts his tranquillity?
Played by:
Double basses Cellos
Presto 2’46 What do you feel this music describes?
Summer Storm
Summer Storm Scales: up or down? Notes: short or long? Texture: one or plenty of instrument? Tempo: fast or slow? Soloist: ???
Concerto No3: Autumn Allegro Adagio
Allegro 5’26 What does this music make you feel?
Harvest Celebration Dance
Adagio molto 2’36 What do you feel this music describes?
How does Vivaldi achieve this calm? Volume: loud or soft? Texture: lots of instruments or a few? Rhythms: short or long notes? Tempo: fast or slow ?
Allegro 3’32 What do you feel listening to this music?
Concerto No 4: Winter Allegro non molto Largo Allegro
Allegro non molto 3’29
Largo 2’15
Can you hear the raindrops?
Allegro 3’16