Owen McGowan

Dr. Talbot
MUS149
Assignment 4.3

Context
• 5th Grade
• This lesson is one of a unit that would outline the composers and works of the Baroque era.

Essential Question: How can we use music to reflect the meaning of words?

Learning Outcomes
1. Students will identify the elements of music that the performers used to convey the idea of
spring.
2. Students will define “word painting.”
3. Students will identify the use of word painting in Le quattro Stagioni.
4. Students will compose a piece that incorporates the use of word painting throughout.

Standards
MU:Cr2.1.5a Demonstrate selected and developed musical ideas for improvisations, arrangements, or
compositions to express intent, and explain connection to purpose and context.
MU:Pr4.2.5a Demonstrate understanding of the structure and the elements of music (such as rhythm,
pitch, form, and harmony) in music selected for performance.
MU:Re8.1.5a Demonstrate and explain how the expressive qualities (such as dynamics, tempo, timbre,
and articulation) are used in performers’ and personal interpretations to reflect expressive intent.
MU:Cn10.0.5a Demonstrate how interests, knowledge, and skills relate to personal choices and intent
when creating, performing, and responding to music.

Materials
Computer with internet access
Projector
Speakers
Recording of Vivaldi’s Le quattro stagioni – La primavera (Allegro)
Print out of companion poem (one for each pair of students)
Print out of exit sheet (one for each student)
Staff paper (one sheet for each student)
The Four Seasons. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2020, from
https://www.baroquemusic.org/vivaldiseasons.html
Vivaldi, A. (1723). Le quattro stagioni. Retrieved March, 24, 2020, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LAPFM3dgag
Madrigalism. (n.d.) Retrieved February 18, 2020, from
https://dictionary.onmusic.org/terms/2062-madrigalism
Word painting. (n.d.) Retrieved February 18, 2020, from
https://dictionary.onmusic.org/terms/3957-word_painting

Vocabulary
Madrigalism - A term used to describe the illustrative devices used particularly in madrigals. This
includes text painting, for example: changing the texture, tone, range, or volume to musically depict
what the text is describing.
Word painting - Musical depiction of words in text. Using the device of word painting, the music tries to
imitate the emotion, action, or natural sounds as described in the text. For example, if the text describes
a sad event, the music might be in a minor key. Conversely, if the text is joyful, the music may be set in
a major key. This device was used often in madrigals and other works of the Renaissance and Baroque.

Procedure
1. The teacher will have the students to sit on the ground.
2. The teacher will state that the piece about to be played is based on one of the four seasons and
then begin the recording. The teacher will stop the recording at 3:30.
3. The teacher will ask the students to think about “which season they think the music depicted
and what in the music told you it was that season?” The teacher will put the question on the
projector.
4. The teacher will ask students to discuss their ideas in pairs after a minute of thinking.
5. After 3-5 minutes, the teacher will call on each pair of students to have them share their ideas.
6. The teacher will state that the movement of Vivaldi’s Le quattro Stagioni played was the spring.
7. The teacher will hand out the companion poem and a blank piece of paper.
8. The teacher will ask student to write down when they hear the poem in the music. The teacher
will play the song until 3:30 again.
9. The teacher will ask students to share what they wrote down. The teacher will ask “What type of
elements are used to show what you heard?”
10. The teacher will tell the students that the use of music to represent words of a text is a word
painting.
11. The teacher will demonstrate an improvisation of simple word paintings vocally. The teacher will
sing a pitch then raise the pitch higher and then stop as they say “I will raise my voice higher,
higher, higher, and STOP!”
12. The teacher will pass out staff paper and ask students to compose a piece with a word painting.
The teacher will have the requirements for the composition on the projector.
13. The teacher will have each student present their composition to the class and explain the word
painting connection.
14. A few minutes before the class is over, the teacher will pass out the exit tickets and ask the
student fill them out.
15. The teacher will collect the exit ticket before class is over.

Assessment
1. The teacher will aurally assess the students’ use of musical elements to describe the performers’
intent of implying the spring season. Assess with +/- symbols. Students identified a musical
element used to resemble spring:
_________ (+/-)
2. The teacher will assess the students’ understanding of word painting and how they are
implemented into music through the exit ticket. It will be graded based of the following scale:
Check minus Check Check plus
Both answers are incorrect 1 of 2 questions were answered Both questions were answered
correctly correctly
 3. The teacher will aurally assess the students’ connections they make between the poem and
music in the exit ticket. Assess with +/- symbols. Students connected the words in the poem to
the music:
_________ (+/-)
4. The teacher will visually assess the students’ use of word painting in their composition. Assess
with +/- symbols. Students incorporated a word painting into their composition:
_________ (+/-)

Further Learning
As an extension, the teacher would play another movement from Le quattro stagoni. After playing the
song, the teacher would have the lyrics for the students to review as the song is played a second time.
The teacher would then have the students recognize the word painting used in the song. The teacher
will ask students to think about any other songs that they know of that use word painting.

Honor Code
I affirm that I have upheld the highest principles of honesty and integrity in my academic work and have
not witnessed a violation of the Honor Code.

X Owen McGowan
Which season does the music show and what in the music helped you
make your decision?

Word Painting Composition

You are now going to create your own word painting. You may use your
voice or body percussion to create an 8-16 measure piece that includes
at least one example of a word painting. Write your piece down on the
staff paper in your choice of clef. Be prepared to share with the class!
Name: Date:
Define word painting.

What is one example of a word painting that you heard in class today?

Name: Date:
Define word painting.

What is one example of a word painting that you heard in class today?

Name: Date:
Define word painting.

What is one example of a word painting that you heard in class today?

Name: Date:
Define word painting.

What is one example of a word painting that you heard in class today?
Springtime is upon us.
The birds celebrate her return with festive song,
and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes.
Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven,
Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more.

Springtime is upon us.

The birds celebrate her return with festive song,
and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes.
Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven,
Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more.

Springtime is upon us.

The birds celebrate her return with festive song,
and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes.
Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven,
Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more.

Springtime is upon us.

The birds celebrate her return with festive song,
and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes.
Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven,
Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more.

Springtime is upon us.

The birds celebrate her return with festive song,
and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes.
Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven,
Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more.