Musical Excerpts (RCM History 9)

Vivaldi - Spring, from The Four Seasons, Op. 8: 1st mov.

- Genre: Solo violin concerto

- Date: 1725

- Inspiration: Sonnets describing the seasons of the year

- Performing forces: solo violin, strings, continuo

- Key: E major

- Form: Ritornello form

- Poetic image: Spring has arrived

Vivaldi - Spring, from The Four Seasons, Op. 8: 1st mov.

- Genre: Solo violin concerto

- Date: 1725

- Inspiration: Sonnets describing the seasons of the year

- Performing forces: solo violin, strings, continuo

- Key: E major

- Form: Ritornello form

- Poetic image: Birds celebrate with a festive song

Vivaldi - Spring, from The Four Seasons, Op. 8: 1st mov.

- Genre: Solo violin concerto

- Date: 1725

- Inspiration: Sonnets describing the seasons of the year

- Performing forces: solo violin, strings, continuo

- Key: E major

- Form: Ritornello form

- Poetic image: Murmuring streams and gentle breezes

Vivaldi - Spring, from The Four Seasons, Op. 8: 1st mov.

- Genre: Solo violin concerto

- Date: 1725

- Inspiration: Sonnets describing the seasons of the year

- Performing forces: solo violin, strings, continuo

- Key: E major

- Form: Ritornello form

- Poetic image: Storm clouds, thunder and lightning

Vivaldi - Spring, from The Four Seasons, Op. 8: 2nd mov.

- Genre: Solo violin concerto

- Date: 1725

- Inspiration: Sonnets describing the seasons of the year

- Performing forces: solo violin, strings, continuo

- Key: C# minor

- Form: Two-part structure

- Poetic image: Goatherd sleeps in a meadow beside his dog; rustling leaves

Vivaldi - Spring, from The Four Seasons, Op. 8: 3rd mov.

- Genre: Solo violin concerto

- Date: 1725

- Inspiration: Sonnets describing the seasons of the year

- Performing forces: solo violin, strings, continuo

- Key: E major

- Form: Ritornello

- Poetic image: Nymphs and shepherds dance to the sound of bagpipes

Bach - Prelude & Fugue in Bb major, BWV 866, from The Well Tempered Clavier Book 1: Prelude

- Genre: solo keyboard music

- Date: 1722

- Form: Similar to binary

- Texture: Homophonic & polyphonic

Bach - Prelude & Fugue in Bb major, BWV 866, from The Well Tempered Clavier Book 1: Prelude

- Genre: solo keyboard music

- Date: 1722

- Form: Similar to binary

- Meter: 4/4

- Texture: Homophonic & polyphonic

Bach - Prelude & Fugue in Bb major, BWV 866, from The Well Tempered Clavier Book 1: Fugue

- Genre: solo keyboard music

- Date: 1722

- Texture: Polyphonic

- Type of answer: Tonal

- Countersubjects: Two

Bach - Prelude & Fugue in Bb major, BWV 866, from The Well Tempered Clavier Book 1: Fugue

- Genre: solo keyboard music

- Date: 1722

- Texture: Polyphonic

- Type of answer: Tonal

- Countersubjects: Two

Bach - Prelude & Fugue in Bb major, BWV 866, from The Well Tempered Clavier Book 1: Fugue

- Genre: solo keyboard music

- Date: 1722

- Texture: Polyphonic

- Type of answer: Tonal

- Countersubjects: Two

Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: Overture

- Genre (Messiah): Oratorio

- Genre (This excerpt): French overture

- Premiere: 1742 in Dublin

- Source of text: The Bible

- Librettist: Charles Jennens

- Key: E minor

- Form: ||: A :|| B ||

- Texture: Homophonic

Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: Overture

- Genre (Messiah): Oratorio

- Genre (This excerpt): French overture

- Premiere: 1742 in Dublin

- Source of text: The Bible

- Librettist: Charles Jennens

- Key: E minor

- Form: ||: A :|| B ||

- Texture: Polyphonic (fugal)

- Type of answer: Tonal

Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: "There were shepherds"

- Genre (Messiah): Oratorio

- Genre (This excerpt): Recitativo secco

- Premiere: 1742 in Dublin

- Source of text: The Bible

- Librettist: Charles Jennens

- Key: C major

Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: "There were shepherds"

- Genre (Messiah): Oratorio

- Genre (This excerpt): Recitativo accompagnato

- Premiere: 1742 in Dublin

- Source of text: The Bible

- Librettist: Charles Jennens

- Key: F major

- Word painting: 16th note figure - trembling of fearful shepherds

Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: "There were shepherds"

- Genre (Messiah): Oratorio

- Genre (This excerpt): Recitativo secco

- Premiere: 1742 in Dublin

- Source of text: The Bible

- Librettist: Charles Jennens

- Key: D major

Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: "There were shepherds"

- Genre (Messiah): Oratorio

- Genre (This excerpt): Recitativo accompagnato

- Premiere: 1742 in Dublin

- Source of text: The Bible

- Librettist: Charles Jennens

- Key: D major

- Word painting: Dotted figures - suddenness of angels' arrival; 16th note figures - movement of angels' wings

Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: "Glory to God"

- Genre (Messiah): Oratorio

- Genre (This excerpt): Chorus

- Premiere: 1742 in Dublin

- Source of text: The Bible

- Librettist: Charles Jennens

- Key: D major

- Word painting: "In the highest" - upper register; "Peace on Earth" - downward octave leap

Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: "Rejoice Greatly"

- Genre (Messiah): Oratorio

- Genre (This excerpt): Da capo aria for soprano

- Premiere: 1742 in Dublin

- Source of text: The Bible

- Librettist: Charles Jennens

- Key: Bb major

- Word painting: - "Rejoice greatly" - celebratory character with melismas; "Shout" - burst of sound in upper register

Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: "Rejoice Greatly"

- Genre (Messiah): Oratorio

- Genre (This excerpt): Da capo aria for soprano

- Premiere: 1742 in Dublin

- Source of text: The Bible

- Librettist: Charles Jennens

- Key: G minor

Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: "Rejoice Greatly"

- Genre (Messiah): Oratorio

- Genre (This excerpt): Da capo aria for soprano

- Premiere: 1742 in Dublin

- Source of text: The Bible

- Librettist: Charles Jennens

- Key: G minor

Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: "Hallelujah"

- Genre (Messiah): Oratorio

- Genre (This excerpt): Chorus

- Premiere: 1742 in Dublin

- Source of text: The Bible

- Librettist: Charles Jennens

- Key: D major

- Texture: Homophonic and polyphonic

Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: "Hallelujah"

- Genre (Messiah): Oratorio

- Genre (This excerpt): Chorus

- Premiere: 1742 in Dublin

- Source of text: The Bible

- Librettist: Charles Jennens

- Key: D major

- Texture: Homophonic and polyphonic

Haydn - String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, "Emperor": 2nd mov.

- Genre: String quartet

- Date: 1797

- Form: Theme and variations (four)

- Key: G major

Haydn - String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, "Emperor": 2nd mov.

- Genre: String quartet

- Date: 1797

- Form: Theme and variations (four)

- Key: G major

Haydn - String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, "Emperor": 2nd mov.

- Genre: String quartet

- Date: 1797

- Form: Theme and variations (four)

- Key: G major

Haydn - String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, "Emperor": 2nd mov.

- Genre: String quartet

- Date: 1797

- Form: Theme and variations (four)

- Key: G major

Haydn - String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, "Emperor": 2nd mov.

- Genre: String quartet

- Date: 1797

- Form: Theme and variations (four)

- Key: G major

Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: 1st mov.

- Genre: Serenade for strings

- Date: 1787

- Performing forces: Double string quartet (with double bass)

- Form: Sonata

- Key: G major

Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: 1st mov.

- Genre: Serenade for strings

- Date: 1787

- Performing forces: Double string quartet (with double bass)

- Form: Sonata

- Key: G major

Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: 1st mov.

- Genre: Serenade for strings

- Date: 1787

- Performing forces: Double string quartet (with double bass)

- Form: Sonata

- Key: G major

Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: 1st mov.

- Genre: Serenade for strings

- Date: 1787

- Performing forces: Double string quartet (with double bass)

- Form: Sonata

- Key: G major

Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: 1st mov.

- Genre: Serenade for strings

- Date: 1787

- Performing forces: Double string quartet (with double bass)

- Form: Sonata

- Key: G major

Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: 1st mov.

- Genre: Serenade for strings

- Date: 1787

- Performing forces: Double string quartet (with double bass)

- Form: Sonata

- Key: G major

Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: 2nd mov. (Romanza)

- Genre: Serenade for strings

- Date: 1787

- Performing forces: Double string quartet (with double bass)

- Form: Rondo (ABACA Coda)

- Key: C major

Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: 2nd mov. (Romanza)

- Genre: Serenade for strings

- Date: 1787

- Performing forces: Double string quartet (with double bass)

- Form: Rondo (ABACA Coda)

- Key: C major

Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: 2nd mov. (Romanza)

- Genre: Serenade for strings

- Date: 1787

- Performing forces: Double string quartet (with double bass)

- Form: Rondo (ABACA Coda)

- Key: C major

Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: 3rd mov.

- Genre: Serenade for strings

- Date: 1787

- Performing forces: Double string quartet (with double bass)

- Form: Ternary (ABA)

- Key: G major

Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: 3rd mov.

- Genre: Serenade for strings

- Date: 1787

- Performing forces: Double string quartet (with double bass)

- Form: Ternary (ABA)

- Key: G major

Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: 4th mov.

- Genre: Serenade for strings

- Date: 1787

- Performing forces: Double string quartet (with double bass)

- Form: Sonata-rondo

- Key: G major

Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: 4th mov.

- Genre: Serenade for strings

- Date: 1787

- Performing forces: Double string quartet (with double bass)

- Form: Sonata-rondo

- Key: G major

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: 1st mov.

- Genre: Symphony

- Date: 1807-1808

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra

- Form: Sonata

- Key: C minor

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: 1st mov.

- Genre: Symphony

- Date: 1807-1808

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra

- Form: Sonata

- Key: C minor

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: 1st mov.

- Genre: Symphony

- Date: 1807-1808

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra

- Form: Sonata

- Key: C minor

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: 2nd mov.

- Genre: Symphony

- Date: 1807-1808

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra

- Form: Two themes with variations

- Key: Ab major

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: 2nd mov.

- Genre: Symphony

- Date: 1807-1808

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra

- Form: Two themes with variations

- Key: Ab major

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: 3rd mov.

- Genre: Symphony

- Date: 1807-1808

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra

- Form: Ternary (ABA) Scherzo and Trio

- Key: C minor

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: 3rd mov.

- Genre: Symphony

- Date: 1807-1808

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra

- Form: Ternary (ABA) Scherzo and Trio

- Key: C minor

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: 3rd mov.

- Genre: Symphony

- Date: 1807-1808

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra

- Form: Ternary (ABA) Scherzo and Trio

- Key: C minor

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: 4th mov.

- Genre: Symphony

- Date: 1807-1808

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra

- Form: Sonata

- Key: C major

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: 4th mov.

- Genre: Symphony

- Date: 1807-1808

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra

- Form: Sonata

- Key: C major

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: 4th mov.

- Genre: Symphony

- Date: 1807-1808

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra

- Form: Sonata

- Key: C major

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: 4th mov.

- Genre: Symphony

- Date: 1807-1808

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra

- Form: Sonata

- Key: C major

Schubert - Erlkönig, Op. 1, D. 328

- Genre: Lied

- Date: 1815

- Poet: Wolfgang von Goethe

- Performing forces: Voice and piano

- Song type: Durchkomponiert (through-composed)

- Key: G minor

Schubert - Erlkönig, Op. 1, D. 328

- Genre: Lied

- Date: 1815

- Poet: Wolfgang von Goethe

- Performing forces: Voice and piano

- Song type: Durchkomponiert (through-composed)

- Key: G minor

Schubert - Erlkönig, Op. 1, D. 328

- Genre: Lied

- Date: 1815

- Poet: Wolfgang von Goethe

- Performing forces: Voice and piano

- Song type: Durchkomponiert (through-composed)

- Key: G minor

Schubert - Erlkönig, Op. 1, D. 328

- Genre: Lied

- Date: 1815

- Poet: Wolfgang von Goethe

- Performing forces: Voice and piano

- Song type: Durchkomponiert (through-composed)

- Key: G minor

Chopin - Polonaise in Ab Major, Op. 53

- Genre: Solo piano music

- Date: 1842

- Form: ABA1 (with introduction and coda)

- Key: Ab major

Chopin - Polonaise in Ab Major, Op. 53

- Genre: Solo piano music

- Date: 1842

- Form: ABA1 (with introduction and coda)

- Key: Ab major

Chopin - Polonaise in Ab Major, Op. 53

- Genre: Solo piano music

- Date: 1842

- Form: ABA1 (with introduction and coda)

- Key: Ab major

Chopin - Polonaise in Ab Major, Op. 53

- Genre: Solo piano music

- Date: 1842

- Form: ABA1 (with introduction and coda)

- Key: Ab major

Berlioz - Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: 5th mov. "Song d'une nuit de sabbat"

- Genre: Program symphony

- Date: 1830

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra (expanded)

- Key: C minor

Berlioz - Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: 5th mov. "Song d'une nuit de sabbat"

- Genre: Program symphony

- Date: 1830

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra (expanded)

- Key: C minor

Berlioz - Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: 5th mov. "Song d'une nuit de sabbat"

- Genre: Program symphony

- Date: 1830

- Performing forces: Symphony orchestra (expanded)

- Key: C minor

Bizet - Carmen: "Quand je vous aimerai?"

- Genre (Carmen): Lyric opera

- Genre (This excerpt): Recitative

- Date: 1875

- Librettist: Henri Meilhac

- Key: F minor

Bizet - Carmen: "Quand je vous aimerai?"

- Genre (Carmen): Lyric opera

- Genre (This excerpt): Recitative

- Date: 1875

- Librettist: Henri Meilhac

- Key: F minor

Bizet - Carmen: "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle"

- Genre (Carmen): Lyric opera

- Genre (This excerpt): Aria

- Date: 1875

- Librettist: Henri Meilhac

- Key: D minor

Bizet - Carmen: "Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre" (Toreador Song)

- Genre (Carmen): Lyric opera

- Genre (This excerpt): Aria

- Date: 1875

- Librettist: Henri Meilhac

- Key: F minor

Bizet - Carmen: "Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre" (Toreador Song)

- Genre (Carmen): Lyric opera

- Genre (This excerpt): Aria

- Date: 1875

- Librettist: Henri Meilhac

- Key: F minor

Debussy - Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

- Genre: Symphonic poem

- Date: 1894

- Inspiration: Poem by Stéphane Mallarmé

- Form: Loosely ternary (ABA1)

- Performing forces: Orchestra

- Key: Four sharps, ambiguous tonality

Debussy - Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

- Genre: Symphonic poem

- Date: 1894

- Inspiration: Poem by Stéphane Mallarmé

- Form: Loosely ternary (ABA1)

- Performing forces: Orchestra

- Key: Four sharps, ambiguous tonality

Debussy - Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

- Genre: Symphonic poem

- Date: 1894

- Inspiration: Poem by Stéphane Mallarmé

- Form: Loosely ternary (ABA1)

- Performing forces: Orchestra

- Key: Four sharps, ambiguous tonality

Debussy - Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

- Genre: Symphonic poem

- Date: 1894

- Inspiration: Poem by Stéphane Mallarmé

- Form: Loosely ternary (ABA1)

- Performing forces: Orchestra

- Key: Four sharps, ambiguous tonality

Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring: Introduction

- Genre: Ballet

- Date: 1913

- Choreographer: Vaslav Nijinsky

- Performing forces: Large symphony orchestra with expanded percussion

Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring: Introduction

- Genre: Ballet

- Date: 1913

- Choreographer: Vaslav Nijinsky

- Performing forces: Large symphony orchestra with expanded percussion

Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring: Dance of the Adolescents

- Genre: Ballet

- Date: 1913

- Choreographer: Vaslav Nijinsky

- Performing forces: Large symphony orchestra with expanded percussion

Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring: Dance of the Adolescents

- Genre: Ballet

- Date: 1913

- Choreographer: Vaslav Nijinsky

- Performing forces: Large symphony orchestra with expanded percussion

Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring: Dance of the Adolescents

- Genre: Ballet

- Date: 1913

- Choreographer: Vaslav Nijinsky

- Performing forces: Large symphony orchestra with expanded percussion

Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring: Game of Abduction

- Genre: Ballet

- Date: 1913

- Choreographer: Vaslav Nijinsky

- Performing forces: Large symphony orchestra with expanded percussion

Bernstein - West Side Story: Maria

- Genre: Musical theatre

- Date: 1957

- Librettist: Arthur Laurents (playwright), Stephen Sondheim (lyricist)

- Choreographer: Jerome Robbins

- Key: B major, Eb major

Bernstein - West Side Story: Maria

- Genre: Musical theatre

- Date: 1957

- Librettist: Arthur Laurents (playwright), Stephen Sondheim (lyricist)

- Choreographer: Jerome Robbins

- Key: B major, Eb major

Bernstein - West Side Story: America

- Genre: Musical theatre

- Date: 1957

- Librettist: Arthur Laurents (playwright), Stephen Sondheim (lyricist)

- Choreographer: Jerome Robbins

- Form: Verse-chorus with introduction

Bernstein - West Side Story: America

- Genre: Musical theatre

- Date: 1957

- Librettist: Arthur Laurents (playwright), Stephen Sondheim (lyricist)

- Choreographer: Jerome Robbins

- Form: Verse-chorus with introduction

Bernstein - West Side Story: America

- Genre: Musical theatre

- Date: 1957

- Librettist: Arthur Laurents (playwright), Stephen Sondheim (lyricist)

- Choreographer: Jerome Robbins

- Form: Verse-chorus with introduction

Bernstein - West Side Story: America

- Genre: Musical theatre

- Date: 1957

- Librettist: Arthur Laurents (playwright), Stephen Sondheim (lyricist)

- Choreographer: Jerome Robbins

- Form: Verse-chorus with introduction

Louie - Music for Piano: Changes

- Genre: Solo piano music

- Date: 1982

- Key: Three flats

Louie - Music for Piano: Changes

- Genre: Solo piano music

- Date: 1982

- Key: Three flats

Louie - Music for Piano: Changes

- Genre: Solo piano music

- Date: 1982

- Key: Three flats

Adams - Short Ride in a Fast Machine

- Genre: Fanfare for orchestra

- Date: 1986

- Structure: One movement (loosely divided into four sections)

- Performing forces: Large symphony orchestra with two synthesizers