UC Baroque Listening Diary Spring from The Four Seasons Questions

I’m working on a music multi-part question and need a reference to help me understand better.

1. Spring, from The Four Seasons (La Primavera, from Il Quatro Stagioni) – Antonio Vivaldi (2 pts)

a. How does Vivaldi provide contrast and variety in this example?

b. How do the ritornellos (the instrumental part that keeps returning) help you to follow the story? Read the poetry in the book first, then follow along on the video.

c. This is program music – music that tells a specific story. What specific features of this music help to tell the story Vivaldi is telling about spring?

2. Spring Recomposed – Max Richter (not in the book) – 2 pts

a. How is Richter’s version different than Vivaldi’s?

b. How is it the same?

c. What do you think of this “recomposed” version of a Baroque classic (this was written in 2012)?

3. Contrapunctus 1 – J.S. Bach (2 points)

a. How many entries of the subject are there (each rectangle is a separate entry)?

b. Does the graphic representation of this piece help you understand it? Do you think you would be able to understand it as well if you were listening to it live, or watching someone perform it? Why or why not?

c. This example is quite different, as it fully explores polyphony and its rules rather than drama or “affections” that we hear in other Baroque music. Does this music give you any emotional connection, or does it feel more mathematical? Explain your answer.

4. Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel (2 pt)

a. Why do you think this piece of music is played so often at weddings?

b. What element of music stands out most in this example? Explain your answer:

c. Note a memorable moment and write the counter time (the exact moment, located at the bottom of the video), then explain why it is memorable:

5. Instrumental examples – use the instrumental examples in the module to answer the following questions (2 pts):

a. Describe the sound of the harpsichord:

b. Which of these instruments sounds most pleasing to you, and why?

c. Which of these instruments sounds least pleasing to you, and why?