Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

Le quattro stagioni  (The Four Seasons)  (1720 - 1723)

            What is program music?

            The Four Seasons were a revolution in musical conception: in them Vivaldi represented 

      flowing creeks, singing birds (of different species, each specifically characterized), barking 

      dogs, buzzing mosquitoes, crying shepherds, storms, drunken dancers, silent nights, hunting 

      parties from both the hunters' and the prey's point of view, frozen landscapes, ice-skating 

      children, and warming winter fires.  

            Each concerto is associated with a sonnet, possibly by Vivaldi, describing the scenes 

      depicted in the music.  They were published as the first four concertos in a collection of 

      twelve, Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione, Opus 8, published in Amsterdam by 

      Michel-Charles Le Cène in 1725. 

2019 Translation of the sonnets by Armand D'angour

      Each concerto has three sections ordered fast-slow-fast.  Bach's Brandenburg Concertos 

      2 - 6 follow the same format.

 

                               Total class music  (22:00)

Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269,   "Spring" (La primavera)  (10:30) 


       Allegro (in E major)  Itzhak Perlman, violin  (3:17)
   
          Spring has come and joyfully the birds greet it with happy song, and the brooks, while 

          the streams flow along with gentle murmur as the zephyrs [west winds] blow.  There 

          come, shrouding the air with a black cloak, lightning and thunder (1:40) chosen to 

          herald [the storm]; then, when these are silent, the little birds return to their melodious 

          incantations.  

      Largo e pianissimo sempre (in C♯ minor)   Itzhak Perlman, violin  (2:38)
 
          And now, in the pleasant, flowery meadow, to the soft murmur of leaves and plants, 

          the goatherd sleeps with his faithful dog at his side.

      Allegro pastorale (in E major)  

         To the festive sound of a pastoral bagpipe, nymphs and shepherds dance under their 

          beloved roof, greeting the glittering arrival of the spring.
 


  Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, "Summer" (L'estate)  (8:15)  

      Allegro non molto (in G minor),  Nigel Kennedy, violin  (5:15) 

          In the harsh season scorched by the sun, man and flock languish, and the pine is 

          on fire; the cuckoo begins to call and soon after, the turtledove and the goldfinch 

          are heard singing.  Zephyr [the west wind] gently blows, but Boreas [the north wind]

          suddenly enters into a contest with its neighbor, and the little shepherd weeps for he 

          hears the awesome threatening storm and his fate. 

      Adagio e piano - Presto e forte (in G minor)  

         To his tired limbs rest is denied by the fear of lightning, awesome thunder, and the 

         furious swarm of flies and hornets!

      Presto (in G minor)  Joshua Bell, violin  (2:43)
 
         Alas, his fears are justified. The sky is filled with thunder and lightning and hail cuts 

        down the proud grain.
 


  Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, "Autumn" (L'autunno)  (12:00) 

      Allegro (in F major)   Janine Jenson, violin (5:00)  

         The peasant celebrates the pleasure of the happy harvest with dances and songs; and 

         inflamed by the liquor of Bacchus, many end their rejoicing with sleep.  

      Adagio molto (in D minor)  
 
         The mild pleasant air makes all abandon dance and song; this is the season that invites 

         all to the sweet delights of peaceful sleep.  

      Allegro (in F major)  
 
         The hunters, at the break of dawn, set forth with horns, guns, and hounds. The animal 

         flees, and they follow its tracks. Already frightened and tired by the great noise of guns 

         and hounds, the wounded animal makes a weak attempt at fleeing but is overcome and 

         dies.  



 Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, "Winter" (L'inverno)  (9:15)  

      Allegro non molto (in F minor)  

         Trembling with cold amidst the freezing snow, while a frightful wind harshly blows, 

         running and stamping one's feet every minute, and feeling one's teeth chatter from the 

         extreme cold; 

      Largo (in E♭ major)  

         Spending quiet contented days by the fire while the rain outside drenches people by 

         the hundreds;

      Allegro (in F minor)  Julia Fischer, violin  (3:16)

         Walking on ice, and moving cautiously, with slow steps, for fear of falling, spinning

         around, slipping, falling down, again walking on ice and running fast until the ice 

         cracks and splits; hearing Sirocco, Boreas, and all the winds at war burst forth from 

         the bolted doors - this is winter, but it also brings joy!