Concerto

1. Virtuosity pt. 1
Concertos

2. What’s virtuosity?

3. • Relative to the instrument / voice
• Display over expression
• Extremes (tempo, register)

4. What’s a concerto?

5. Concerto
• Concertare = skirmish, contend, dispute
• Conserto = to bind, join together
• Contrast

6. Soloist(s) & Orchestra

7. Early 18th C. (Baroque)
vs.
Later 18th C. (Classical

8. Antonio Vivaldi
(1678-1741)
• Venice, “The Red Priest”
• Pio Ospedale della Pietà
• over 500 Concertos

9. The Concerto
contrast between

10. The Concerto
contrast between
small group

11. The Concerto
contrast between
small group large group

12. ...or
contrast between

13. ...or
contrast between
soloist

14. ...or
contrast between
soloist orchestra

15. volume virtuosity
Contrast
timbre themes

16. A baroque concerto contrasts a
soloist or solo group with a ______.
1. larger ensemble
2. basso continuo
3. chorus of singers
4. second soloist

17. Ritornello Form
alternation between
Small group/ Large group/
soloist orchestra

18. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
S1 S2 S3 S4
Ritornello = something that returns

19. The ritornello in a
concerto is a kind of ____.
1. accompaniment
2. orchestra refrain
3. solo section
4. fugue subject

20. Vivaldi, Four Seasons
(1723)
• 4 Violin concertos (3 mvts each)
• Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
• Written to go with sonnets
• Often depicts characteristics of the season
• program music

21. “Winter”
mvt 1 To tremble from cold in the icy snow,
In the harsh breath of a horrid wind;
To run, stamping one's feet every moment,
Our teeth chattering in the extreme cold
mvt 2 Before the fire to pass peaceful,
Contented days while the rain outside pours down.
mvt 3 We tread the icy path slowly and cautiously,
for fear of tripping and falling.
Then turn abruptly, slip, crash on the ground and,
rising, hasten on across the ice lest it cracks up.
We feel the chill north winds course through the home
despite the locked and bolted doors...
this is winter, which nonetheless brings its own delights.

22. R1 S1 R2 S2 R3 S3 R4
“to “in the “to run, “our teeth,
tremble harsh chattering
stamping
from cold breath of in the
in the icy a horrid one’s extreme
snow” wind” feet” cold”

23. R1 S1 R2 S2 R3 S3 R4
“to “in the “to run, “our teeth,
tremble harsh chattering
stamping
from cold breath of in the
in the icy a horrid one’s extreme
snow” wind” feet” cold”

24. R1 S1 R2 S2 R3 S3 R4
“to “in the “to run, “our teeth,
tremble harsh chattering
stamping
from cold breath of in the
in the icy a horrid one’s extreme
snow” wind” feet” cold”

25. R1 S1 R2 S2 R3 S3 R4
“to “in the “to run, “our teeth,
tremble harsh chattering
stamping
from cold breath of in the
in the icy a horrid one’s extreme
snow” wind” feet” cold”

26. R1 S1 R2 S2 R3 S3 R4
“to “in the “to run, “our teeth,
tremble harsh chattering
stamping
from cold breath of in the
in the icy a horrid one’s extreme
snow” wind” feet” cold”

27. R1 S1 R2 S2 R3 S3 R4
“to “in the “to run, “our teeth,
tremble harsh chattering
stamping
from cold breath of in the
in the icy a horrid one’s extreme
snow” wind” feet” cold”

28. R1 S1 R2 S2 R3 S3 R4
“to “in the “to run, “our teeth,
tremble harsh chattering
stamping
from cold breath of in the
in the icy a horrid one’s extreme
snow” wind” feet” cold”

29. R1 S1 R2 S2 R3 S3 R4
“to “in the “to run, “our teeth,
tremble harsh chattering
stamping
from cold breath of in the
in the icy a horrid one’s extreme
snow” wind” feet” cold”

30. R1 S1 R2 S2 R3 S3 R4
“to “in the “to run, “our teeth,
tremble harsh chattering
stamping
from cold breath of in the
in the icy a horrid one’s extreme
snow” wind” feet” cold”

31. R1 S1 R2 S2 R3 S3 R4
“to “in the “to run, “our teeth,
tremble harsh chattering
stamping
from cold breath of in the
in the icy a horrid one’s extreme
snow” wind” feet” cold”

32. R1 S1 R2 S2 R3 S3 R4
“to “in the “to run, “our teeth,
tremble harsh chattering
stamping
from cold breath of in the
in the icy a horrid one’s extreme
snow” wind” feet” cold”

33. Program music is music
which:
• 1) has a text (lyrics)
• 2) is performed in concerts
• 3) refers to a story, event, or idea
• 4) is heard in the background

34. In Vivaldi’s Winter, the repetitive figure
in both the orchestra and solo parts
suggests:
• 1) stamping of the feet
• 2) ducks attacking
• 3) trembling in the cold wind
• 4) sitting under a shade tree

35. “Autumn”
mvt 1
Celebrates the peasant, with songs and dances,
The pleasure of a bountiful harvest.
And fired up by Bacchus' liquor, many end their revelry in sleep
mvt 2
Everyone is made to forget their cares and to sing and dance
By the air which is tempered with pleasure
And (by) the season that invites so many, many
Out of their sweetest slumber to fine enjoyment
mvt 3
The hunters emerge at the new dawn,
And with horns and dogs and guns depart upon their hunting
The beast flees and they follow its trail;
Terrified and tired of the great noise
Of guns and dogs, the beast, wounded, threatens
Languidly to flee, but harried, dies.

36. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
S1 S2 S3 S4
a
aabcc aabcc
acc
aa
song & song &
cc
dance dance
sleep
drunk

37. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
S1 S2 S3 S4
a
aabcc aabcc
acc
aa
song & song &
cc
dance dance
sleep
drunk

38. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
S1 S2 S3 S4
a
aabcc aabcc
acc
aa
song & song &
cc
dance dance
sleep
drunk

39. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
S1 S2 S3 S4
a
aabcc aabcc
acc
aa
song & song &
cc
dance dance
sleep
drunk

40. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
S1 S2 S3 S4
a
aabcc aabcc
acc
aa
song & song &
cc
dance dance
sleep
drunk

41. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
S1 S2 S3 S4
a
aabcc aabcc
acc
aa
song & song &
cc
dance dance
sleep
drunk

42. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
S1 S2 S3 S4
a
aabcc aabcc
acc
aa
song & song &
cc
dance dance
sleep
drunk

43. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
S1 S2 S3 S4
a
aabcc aabcc
acc
aa
song & song &
cc
dance dance
sleep
drunk

44. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
S1 S2 S3 S4
a
aabcc aabcc
acc
aa
song & song &
cc
dance dance
sleep
drunk

45. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
S1 S2 S3 S4
a
aabcc aabcc
acc
aa
song & song &
cc
dance dance
sleep
drunk

46. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
S1 S2 S3 S4
a
aabcc aabcc
acc
aa
song & song &
cc
dance dance
sleep
drunk

47. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
S1 S2 S3 S4
a
aabcc aabcc
acc
aa
song & song &
cc
dance dance
sleep
drunk

48. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
S1 S2 S3 S4
a
aabcc aabcc
acc
aa
song & song &
cc
dance dance
sleep
drunk

49. Later 18th C.
(Classical)

50. Mozart concertos
• 30 for piano
• 5 for violin
• 2 flute, 1 oboe, 1
clarinet, 4 horn,
1 bassoon
• various multiple-
instrument concertos

51. Piano concertos

52. Piano concertos
• Fortepiano

53. Piano concertos
• Fortepiano
• 1771-1791

54. Piano concertos
• Fortepiano
• 1771-1791
• Vienna subscription series

55. Piano concertos
• Fortepiano
• 1771-1791
• Vienna subscription series
• for himself and others

59. Classical concertos are
a hybrid of
• 1) Ritornello and Sonata forms
• 2) Ritornello and Fugue
• 3) Dance movements and opera

60. Classical concerto form
“hybrid” of sonata and ritornello forms

62. Ritornello form

63. Ritornello form
R1 R2 R3 R4
S1 S2 S3

64. Ritornello form
R1 R2 R3 R4
S1 S2 S3
Sonata form

65. Ritornello form
R1 R2 R3 R4
S1 S2 S3
Sonata form
Exposition Development Recapitulation

66. Ritornello form
R1 R2 R3 R4
S1 S2 S3
Sonata form
Exposition Development Recapitulation
Th1, Br, Th2,
Closing

67. Ritornello form
R1 R2 R3 R4
S1 S2 S3
Sonata form
Exposition Development Recapitulation
Th1, Br, Th2, Th1, Br, Th2,
Closing Closing

68. Classical Concerto Form
Exposition Development Recapitulation
R1 S1 (R2) S2 (R3) S3 R4.1 Cadenza R4.2

69. Piano Concerto in A,
K488
(1786)

70. Mozart, Piano Concerto in A, K. 488, mvt. 1
Orchestral Expo 1. lyrical strings
2. energetic full orchestra
3. lyrical, conjunct strings then winds
Solo Expo 1., elaborated soloist
2., modulating orchestra plus soloist
3., new key soloist
4., new theme orchestra

71. Mozart, Piano Concerto in A, K. 488, mvt. 1
Orchestral Expo 1. lyrical strings
2. energetic full orchestra
3. lyrical, conjunct strings then winds
Solo Expo 1., elaborated soloist
2., modulating orchestra plus soloist
3., new key soloist
4., new theme orchestra

72. Development 4., fragmented winds, soloist, orch. dialogue
Recapitulation 1. solo + orch
2., stays in home key solo + orch
3., in home key solo + orch
4., in home key solo + orch
2. orchestra
4. orchestra
Cadenza improvisation soloist
Coda 3. orchestra

73. Development 4., fragmented winds, soloist, orch. dialogue
Recapitulation 1. solo + orch
2., stays in home key solo + orch
3., in home key solo + orch
4., in home key solo + orch
2. orchestra
4. orchestra
Cadenza improvisation soloist
Coda 3. orchestra