The Four Seasons | Vivaldi

“The Four Seasons” is a set of four violin concertos composed by Antonio Vivaldi in 1723. Each concerto represents a different season of the year, and the music is intended to evoke the mood and atmosphere of each season. Its inspiring melodies transformed this important piece of music from the Baroque period into one of the greatest classical music compositions of all time.

The first concert, “Primavera”, is characterized by its light and happy melodies, while the second, “Summer”, is more intense and dramatic. The third concerto, “Autumn,” is marked by its rustic, harvest-inspired themes, and the final concerto, “Winter,” is dark and brooding, with fast, frantic passages that evoke the harshness of the season.

The piece has become one of the most popular and recognizable works in classical music and has been performed and recorded by countless musicians and orchestras around the world.

You will find a lot of beauty in this surprising music where each note played can lead us to the most diverse sensations and feelings. Let us know what is your favorite season: spring, summer, autumn or winter?

 

A landing on Vivaldi

The famous Italian musician, composer and priest Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice, Italy on March 4, 1678 and died in Vienna, Austria on July 28, 1741. He is recognized as one of the 50 greatest geniuses of classical music of all times. He composed more than 770 works, including concertos, operas, cantatas, serenades, motets, sacred music (masses and oratorios). Currently he is best known as the author of the concertos for violin and orchestra “The Four Seasons”.

 

The Four Seasons, by Vivaldi (Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter)

To enhance your experience listening to the four seasons, it is recommended that you at least read the poetry that is written below between the movements of this fabulous piece of music. You can read and meditate on the verses while listening to the beautiful melodies of this famous composition.

Concerto for Violin and Strings in E, Op. 8, No. 1 “Spring”

Here Vivaldi presents the first and most famous movement of the work with a joyful melody that invites everyone to the arrival of spring in a beautiful solo for three violins. If you pay attention you can hear the birds singing, imagine the colorful flowers and feel the joy and happiness of everyone with the beautiful season.

1. Allegro (0:00)

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.

 

2. Largo (03:35)

On the flower-strewn meadow, with leafy branches rustling overhead, the goat-herd sleeps, his faithful dog beside him.

 

3. Allegro – Danza pastorale (06:01)

Led by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes, nymphs and shepherds lightly dance beneath the brilliant canopy of spring.

 

Concerto for Violin and Strings in G minor, Op. 8, No. 1 “Summer”

Here you can feel the dawn and the strength of the morning sun and how love has arisen in hearts in love, the birds continue to sing beautiful songs until the moment when Mother Nature presents the world with strong storms filled with thunder and frightening lightning.

 

1. Allegro non molto – Allegro (10:26)

Under a hard season, fired up by the sun
Languishes man, languishes the flock and burns the pine
We hear the cuckoo’s voice; then sweet songs of the turtledove and finch are heard.
Soft breezes stir the air, but threatening
The North Wind sweeps them suddenly aside.
The shepherd trembles, fearing violent storms and his fate.

 

2. Adagio – Presto – Adagio (15:48)

The fear of lightning and fierce thunder
Robs his tired limbs of rest
As gnats and flies buzz furiously around

 

3. Presto (17:55)

Alas, his fears were justified
The Heavens thunder and roar and with hail
Cut the head off the wheat and damages the grain.

 

Concerto for Violin and Strings in F, Op. 8, No. 3 “Autumn”

Now we can feel the joy and generosity of the harvest season in the fields, the great consumption of wine, to the popular festivals and hunting rituals around the world. But also the sadness when we hear the wind blowing bringing down the autumn leaves that are already dry and leaving the trees to scatter on the ground.

 

1. Allegro (20:57)

Celebrates the peasant, with songs and dances,
The pleasure of a bountiful harvest
And fired up by Bacchus’ liquor
Many end their revelry in sleep.

 

2. Adagio molto (26:18)

Everyone is made to forget their cares and to sing and dance
By the air which is tempered with pleasure
And (by) the season that invites to many, many
Out of their sweetest slumber to fine enjoyment.

 

3. Allegro – La caccia (29:05)

The hunters emerge at the new dawn
And with horns and dogs and guns depart upon their hunting
The beast flees and they follow its trail; Terrified and tired of the great noise
Of guns and dogs, the beast, wounded, threatens
Languidly to flee, but harried, dies.

 

Concerto for Violin and Strings in F minor, Op. 8, No. 4 “Winter”

Finally, winter arrives, with the shivering cold, the restless winds, the comfort of the fireplace, the rain that soaks the fields and cities, the slow and hesitant walking on snow, all the majesty of the last season imposing that feeling of sadness, loneliness, and hope for better days.

 

1. Allegro non molto (32:45)

To tremble from cold in the ice snow,
In the harsh breath of a horrid wind;
To run, stamping one’s feet every moment,
Our teeth chattering in the extreme cold.

 

2. Largo (36:14)

Before the fire to pass peaceful, Contented days while the rain outside pours down.

 

3. Allegro (38:33)

We tread the icy path slowly and cautiously,
For fear of tripping and falling.
Then turn abruptly, slip, crash on the ground and,
Rising, hasten on across the ice lest it cracks up.
We feel the chill north winds course through the home
Despite the locked and bolted doors…
This is winter, which nonetheless
Brings its own delights.

 

I hope you enjoyed this brief moment of inspiration and peace, we’d love to know what your favorite season is? Let us know in the comments below.

 

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