Bachianas brasileiras No. 2 W. 247, Mvt. IV: "Toccata: O Trenzinho do Caipira" by Heitor Villa-Lobos

Compared to “short ride” how is Villa-Lobos story in “O Trenzinho do Caipira?”

Much more clear

What does Villa-Lobos write in the score of “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

A comment clarifying his intentions

What does Villa-Lobos comment on the score say?

“impressions of a journey in the little trains of the hinterland of S. Paulo”

Describe what “O trenzinho do Caipira” portrays.

The engine builds up[ steam in order to ascend a steep hill, with a nail biting moment when its unclear if the train has the strength to make it over. When it succeeds numerous train whistles convey a sense of triumph

Where do the Caipira people of brazil reside?

In the south-central part of the country

What did city dwellers in brazil view the Caipira people as?

Hopelessly backwards

How did city dwellers view the steam train in “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

Believable and humorous since the old steam train can barely handle its load while going up the hill

What contributes to the vivid portrayal of the locomotive in “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

Several special tone colors

What generates the first train whistle in “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

Flute and clarinet both use the flutter-tounge technique

What does the flutter-tounge technique require?

Players roll off their tounges rapidly behind their teeth

What sound does the flutter-tounge technique when performed by flute and clarinet in “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

A growl-like sound

How is the groaning of the steam engine conveyed in “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

Quick upward glissandos in the horns and trombones

What conveys the squealing of the breaks n “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

Violins and violas

What contributes to the “spine-tingling effect” in “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

The violins and violas bowing closer to the bridge than is customary which creates a thinner scratchier sound

What is sul ponticello?

Where violins/violas are bowed closer to the bridge than customary

Sul ponticello is in what language?

Italian

What does ponte mean in Italian?

Bridge

What does Villa-Lobos call for in What contributes to the “spine-tingling effect” in “O trenzinho do Caipira” in order to contribute to the folk atmosphere?

a number of Brazilian percussion instruments

How does an audio recording of “O trenzinho do Caipira” differ from a performance of it?

In the audio there is a gradual irregular accelerando in the first 30 seconds while in the performance the conductors speed remains mainly unchanged in that opening stretch

What does the accelerando in the opening of the audio recording represent?

The small train getting underway

What is the reason for the discrepancy between the audio recording ad the live performance?

Villa-lobos crafted the sense of the accelerando by using shorter and shorter note values rather than changing the tempo

Does the audio recording of “O trenzinho do Caipira” or the performance feature the more free tempo?

The audio recording

What does the abbreviation “c” mean on sheet music?

It stands in for “compas”

“compas” means what? In what language?

It means measure or bar in spanish

What notes does Villa-Lobas use for measures 1-3 of “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

Dotted quarter, and an eighth tired to a quarter note followed by a quarter rest

What notes does Villa-Lobos use in measures 4-6 of “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

2 quarter notes

What notes does Villa-Lobos use in measures 7-10 of “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

3 triplets

What notes does Villa-Lobos use in measures 11-12 of “O trenzinho do Caipira>”

Dotted eighth, eighth tied to eighth followed by eighth tied to eighth followed by dotted eighth

What notes does Villa-Lobos use in measures 13-15 of “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

Sixteenth note tied to eighth followed by 7 more eighths

What notes does Villa Lobos use in 16-18.1 of “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

Eighth note tied to a triplet followed by 8 triplets

The 0.1 after the 18th measure (18.1) means what?

The rhythm flows into the downbeat of 18 (the last triplet of the rhythm falls in measure 18—look at figure 2-2)

What notes does villa-lobos use in measure 18 of “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

3 triplets followed by 4 sixteenth notes

What notes does Villa lobos US in measure 19 onwards in terms of the opening rhythm of the acceleration of the train?

8 sixteenth notes

What was the fourth movement of Bachianas brasileiras No. 2 labeled?

Toccata

What has toccata been used to describe for centuries?

Viruosic animated pieces that often sound improvised

Why is the term toccata ironic to describe the train?

The term describes animated pieces yet the train is not animated at the start or end of its journey

At what point in the song is the toccata label apprpriate?

After the train has been portrayed to reach its full speed.

How does “O trenzinho do Caipira” open?

Note values grow smaller creating the sense of accelerando over the first 35 seconds

What muscle feature portrays the first train whistle?

Flute and clarinet flutter tounges

What musical feature portrays the train “chugging” in the works opening?

Quick pairs of notes

The groaning of the engine is portrayed by what?

Upward glissandos in brass

When the train reaches speed what musical feature occurs?

The lyrical theme is played by violins over the steady pulsation of the train moving and downward glissandos

What portrays the second whistle in “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

Clarinet quickly oscillating glissandos

When the train begins to labor what musical feature depicts it?

The trombone melody rises and falls while other instruments echo and the texture grows denser

When the train teeters at the crest of the hill what occurs musically?

Winds trill/flutter tounges to reflect the precarious state

What musical feature portrays the train pushing over the top of the hill?

High woodwinds and strings play rapid descending chromatic scales while lower instruments play uneven ascents

When the train regains control after going over the hill what occurs?

The steady pulse of the train moving resumes

What occurs during the 3rd, and 4th whistles?

Thehorns and trombones play rising then falling motifs

What occurs during the 5th whistle segment?

The whistles are quieter and a sustained trombone note portrays the whistle

What dynamic does “O trenzinho do Caipira” end at?

A FF chord before the work goes silent for around 10 seconds

When the train begins slowing what occurs musically?

The melody endsona sustained note

The last train whistles audible areportrayed how?

Horns play rising/falling glissandos while violins/violas play quietly sul ponticello to evoke the squealing breaks

What 2 instruments play to evoke squealing breaks?

Piccolo, oboe, violin, viola (violin and viola play sul ponticello)

What occurs as the train nears its destination?

A prolonged ritardando and diminuendo

How long do the ritardando and diminuendo last as the train arrives at its destination?

About 27 seconds

What occurs wwhen the train halts?

A deep piano octave plays

What portrays the train releasing steam at the end of the journey?

“Shimmery” sounds in percussion

What portrays the loud burst at the end of “O trenzinho do Caipira?”

a FF chord in the full ensemble

What instruments are in O Trenzinho do Caipira?

Flute, clarinet, trombones, horns, oboe, violins, violas, piccolo, piano, percussion (uncertain what instruments)