The Season of Spring
To celebrate the season and optimism of Spring we need to acknowledge a remarkable selection that continues to remain important to audiences. Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741) was an Italian composer of the Baroque period. Although he wrote hundreds of compositions, one of his most famous “The Four Seasons” was written originally for the girls orchestra formed at the Ospendale – an institution that provided boys with education in trades and girls with music instruction. From 1717 – 1721 he wrote the music for this four – piece masterpiece of program music.
Here is the sonnet that Antonio Vivaldi wrote to accompany the first movement:
La Primavera (Spring)
Opus 8, No. 1, in E Major
I. Allergo –
Spring has arrived with joy,
Welcomed by the birds with happy songs,
And the brooks, amidst gentle breezes,
Murmur sweetly as they flow.
The sky is caped in black, and
Thunder and lightning announce a storm.
When they fall silent, the birds
Take up again their delightful songs.
II. Largo e pianissimo sempre –
And in the pleasant, blossom-filled meadow,
To the gentle murmur of leaves and plants,
The goatherd sleeps, his faithful dog beside him.
III. Danza pastorale. Allegro –
To the merry sounds of a rustic bagpipes,
Nymphs and shepherds dance in their beloved spot,
When Spring appears in appearance.
If you listen carefully you will hear the scenes described in the sonnet during the first movement of “The Four Seasons” – Spring:
If you are interested in exploring Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” listen to each movement and read the accompanying sonnet. Which movement do you prefer? Each movement tries to demonstrate the notable changes of each season.