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Vivaldi - La Primavera (Spring) - I Allegro
José Rodríguez Alvira
The first movement, an Allegro, uses the ritornello form. In this form the main musical idea - the ritornello - is presented with variations by the full orchestra (tutti or ripieno), alternating with soloists sections (concertino).
Follows the structure of this movement (click on the sections to examine them):
Section
Measures
Key
Text
1 - 13
E major
Springtime is upon us...
The first ritornello announces the arrival of spring.
John Harrison, violín, Robert Turizziani, director. Wichita State University Chamber Players. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
13 - 27
E major
The birds celebrate her return with festive song
In the first solo section, the violins imitate birdsong using trills, tonic and dominant pedals, and simple ascending and descending motives. The whole passage remains in the key of E major.
John Harrison, violín, Robert Turizziani, director. Wichita State University Chamber Players. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
27 - 30
E major
The ritornello returns. Vivaldi presents only the second phrase, without repetition:
John Harrison, violín, Robert Turizziani, director. Wichita State University Chamber Players. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
31 - 40
E major
and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes.
Sixteenth notes motifs describe the water of the fountains flowing. We remain in the key of E major.
John Harrison, violín, Robert Turizziani, director. Wichita State University Chamber Players. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
40 - 44
B major
The ritornello returns. Vivaldi presents a single phrase, this time in B major.
John Harrison, violín, Robert Turizziani, director. Wichita State University Chamber Players. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
44 - 55
E major, B major and C# minor
Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven,
The storm arrives. The key is C# minor.
John Harrison, violín, Robert Turizziani, director. Wichita State University Chamber Players. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
55 - 59
C# minor
The ritornello now in the key of C# minor.
John Harrison, violín, Robert Turizziani, director. Wichita State University Chamber Players. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
59 - 65
C# minor
Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more.
After the storm, the birds take up their songs. This time the key is C# minor.
John Harrison, violín, Robert Turizziani, director. Wichita State University Chamber Players. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
66 - 70
C# minor
Ritornello in C# minor. The section ends in E major.
John Harrison, violín, Robert Turizziani, director. Wichita State University Chamber Players. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
70 - 82
E major
John Harrison, violín, Robert Turizziani, director. Wichita State University Chamber Players. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
John Harrison, violín, Robert Turizziani, director. Wichita State University Chamber Players. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. José Rodríguez Alvira. Published by teoria.com
