Four Seasons CD-ROM

Subject: Music
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 11 - 14
Order Number: 11082

This collection of 88 PowerPoint slides for Vivaldi's Four Seasons continue to enjoy great popularity, and their programmatic nature provides easy access to the 'classical repertoire'. They also present an opportunity to discuss aspects of the genre of concerto and the Baroque Period. Each presentation takes one concerto and provides an exercise in composing, performing, listening or analysis.

• The wonderfully programmatic Winter concerto lends itself brilliantly to questions on listening and analysis. Students not only feel cold, but also get to see how Vivaldi sets their teeth chattering!
• Vivaldi's penchant for ritornello form is considered in conjunction with the Spring concerto. Students analyse Vivaldi's ritornello theme, compose a pastiche and then use descriptive words to compose programmatic episodes.
• Students have the opportunity to perform an abridged version of the soloist's part from the first movement of Autumn, using a MIDI backing track. The pack includes versions for performance on B flat and E flat instruments.
• The presentation about Summer looks at the sonnet, and discusses the emotional language of music. Students are asked to compose a piece of programme music based on Summertime: Number 9A by Jackson Pollock.

Each presentation contains:

• The sonnets presented in Italian and English.
• The lines of the sonnets are hyper-linked to the programmatic music Vivaldi wrote, so the student can analyse the notation as it plays.
• A hyperlink to a biography of Vivaldi's life.

A comprehensive resource for music students 13 to 16 years of age. Use it as a teacher-led whiteboard activity, or at an individual's workstation.

Also includes Teachers Notes and Music Scores in either Sibelius or Encore.

Once purchased, the CD-ROM can be freely copied and networked throughout the school.