The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
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The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni in original Italian) is a set of four violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi. Composed in 1723, The Four Seasons is Vivaldi's best-known work, and is among the most popular pieces of Baroque music. The work has been recorded on numerous occasions.
The concertos were first published in 1725 as part of a set of twelve, Vivaldi's Op. 8, entitled Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione (The Contest of Harmony and Invention). The first four concertos were designated Le quattro stagioni, each being named after a season. Each one is in three movements, with a slow movement between two faster ones. At the time of writing the Four Seasons, the modern solo form of the concerto had not yet been defined (typically a solo instrument and accompanying orchestra). Vivaldi's original arrangement for solo violin with string quartet and basso continuo helped to define the form. In modern times, others have made transcriptions and arrangements to be performed on different instrumentation.
- Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, "La primavera" (Spring)
- Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, "L'estate" (Summer)
- Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, "L'autunno" (Autumn)
- Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, "L'inverno" (Winter)
The texture of each concerto is varied, resembling its respective season. For example, "Winter" is peppered with silvery staccato notes from the high strings, calling to mind icy rain, whereas "Summer" evokes a thunderstorm in its final movement.
The four concertos were written to go along with four sonnets. Though it is not known who wrote these sonnets there is a theory that Vivaldi wrote them himself. The sonnets are as follows in the original Italian with an English translation:
Italian | English |
---|---|
La Primavera | Spring |
Allegro Largo Allegro |
Allegro Largo Allegro |
L'Estate | Summer |
Allegro non molto - Allegro Adagio e piano - Presto e forte Presto |
Allegro non molto Adagio e piano - Presto e forte Presto |
L'Autunno | Autumn |
Allegro Adagio molto Allegro |
Allegro Adagio molto Allegro |
L'Inverno | Winter |
Allegro non molto Largo Allegro |
Allegro non molto Largo Allegro |
In addition to these sonnets, Vivaldi provided instructions such as "The barking dog" (in the second movement of "Spring"), "Languor caused by the heat" (in the first movement of "Summer"), and "the drunkards have fallen asleep" (in the second movement of "Autumn").
The Four Seasons are, therefore, tone poems. Together they are an enduring example of program music. It is often referenced in popular culture.
[edit] Media
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Vivaldi Spring mvt 1: Allegro From Vivaldi's Four Seasons. John Harrison, Violin Vivaldi Spring mvt 2: Largo From Vivaldi's Four Seasons. John Harrison, Violin Vivaldi Spring mvt 3: Allegro From Vivaldi's Four Seasons. John Harrison, Violin Vivaldi Summer mvt 1: Allegro non molto From Vivaldi's Four Seasons. John Harrison, Violin Vivaldi Summer mvt 2: Adagio From Vivaldi's Four Seasons. John Harrison, Violin Vivaldi Summer mvt 3: Presto From Vivaldi's Four Seasons. John Harrison, Violin Vivaldi Autumn mvt 1: Allegro From Vivaldi's Four Seasons. John Harrison, Violin Vivaldi Autumn mvt 2: Adagio molto From Vivaldi's Four Seasons. John Harrison, Violin Vivaldi Autumn mvt 3: Allegro From Vivaldi's Four Seasons. John Harrison, Violin Vivaldi Winter mvt 1: Allegro non molto From Vivaldi's Four Seasons. John Harrison, Violin Vivaldi Winter mvt 2: Largo From Vivaldi's Four Seasons. John Harrison, Violin Vivaldi Winter mvt 3: Allegro From Vivaldi's Four Seasons. John Harrison, Violin - Problems playing the files? See media help.
[edit] External links
- Free scores of The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi at Mutopia Project
- Spring Concerto Allegro, Largo, Allegro interactive hypermedia (Shockwave required) at the BinAural Collaborative Hypertext
- An in-depth overview and comparison of recordings of the Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi on WETA 90.9's website