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The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni in the original Italian) is a set of four violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi. Penned in 1723, The Four Seasons is Vivaldi's best-known work, and is among the most popular pieces of classical music.
The concertos were first published in 1725 as part of a set of 12, 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.
- Concerto in E major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269, "La Primavera" (Spring)
- Allegro
- Largo
- Allegro
- Concerto in G minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315, "L'Estate" (Summer)
- Allegro non molto - Allegro
- Adagio - Presto - Adagio
- Presto
- Concerto in F major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293, "L'Autunno" (Autumn)
- Allegro
- Adagio molto
- Allegro
- Concerto in F minor, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297, "L'Inverno" (Winter)
- Allegro non molto
- Largo
- Allegro
The texture of each concerto is varied, resembling its respective season. For example, "Winter" is dark and somber, whereas "Summer" invokes a thunderstorm in its final movement.
Vivaldi wrote four sonnets, to be read with the four concertos. The sonnets are as follows in the original Italian with an English translation:
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| La Primavera | |
|
Giunt' è la Primavera e festosetti La Salutan gl' Augei con lieto canto, E i fonti allo Spirar de' Zeffiretti Con dolce mormorio Scorrono intanto: Vengon' coprendo l' aer di nero amanto E Lampi, e tuoni ad annuntiarla eletti Indi tacendo questi, gl' Augelletti; Tornan' di nuovo al lor canoro incanto: E quindi sul fiorito ameno prato Al caro mormorio di fronde e piante Dorme 'l Caprar col fido can' à lato. Di pastoral Zampogna al suon festante Danzan Ninfe e Pastor nel tetto amato Di primavera all' apparir brillante. |
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. On the flower-strewn meadow, with leafy branches rustling overhead, the goat-herd sleeps, his faithful dog beside him. Led by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes, nymphs and shepherds lightly dance beneath the brilliant canopy of spring. |
| L'Estate | |
|
Sotto dura Staggion dal Sole accesa Langue l' huom, langue 'l gregge, ed arde il Pino; Scioglie il Cucco la Voce, e tosto intesa Canta la Tortorella e 'l gardelino. Zeffiro dolce Spira, mà contesa Muove Borea improviso al Suo vicino; E piange il Pastorel, perche sospesa Teme fiera borasca, e 'l suo destino; Toglie alle membra lasse il Suo riposo Il timore de' Lampi, e tuoni fieri E de mosche, e mossoni il Stuol furioso! Ah che pur troppo i Suo timor Son veri Tuona e fulmina il Ciel e grandioso Tronca il capo alle Spiche e a' grani alteri. |
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 north wind sweeps them suddenly aside. The shepherd trembles, fearing violent storms and his fate. The fear of lightning and fierce thunder Robs his tired limbs of rest As gnats and flies buzz furiously around. Alas, his fears were justified The Heavens thunders and roar and majestically Cuts the head off the wheat and damages the grain. |
| L'Autunno | |
|
Celebra il Vilanel con balli e Canti Del felice raccolto il bel piacere E del liquor de Bacco accesi tanti Finiscono col Sonno il lor godere Fà ch' ogn' uno tralasci e balli e canti L' aria che temperata dà piacere, E la Staggion ch' invita tanti e tanti D' un dolcissimo Sonno al bel godere. I cacciator alla nov' alba à caccia Con corni, Schioppi, e canni escono fuore Fugge la belua, e Seguono la traccia; Già Sbigottita, e lassa al gran rumore De' Schioppi e canni, ferita minaccia Languida di fuggir, mà oppressa muore. |
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. 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 so many, many Out of their sweetest slumber to fine enjoyment 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. |
| L'Inverno | |
|
Aggiacciato tremar trà neri algenti Al Severo Spirar d' orrido Vento, Correr battendo i piedi ogni momento; E pel Soverchio gel batter i denti; Passar al foco i di quieti e contenti Mentre la pioggia fuor bagna ben cento Caminar Sopra 'l giaccio, e à passo lento Per timor di cader gersene intenti; Gir forte Sdruzziolar, cader à terra Di nuove ir Sopra 'l giaccio e correr forte Sin ch' il giaccio si rompe, e si disserra; Sentir uscir dalle ferrate porte Sirocco Borea, e tutti i Venti in guerra Quest' é 'l verno, mà tal, che gioja apporte. |
Shivering, frozen mid the frosty snow in biting, stinging winds; running to and fro to stamp one's icy feet, teeth chattering in the bitter chill. To rest contentedly beside the hearth, while those outside are drenched by pouring rain. 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. |
In addition to these sonnets, Vivaldi provided instructions such as "The barking dog" (in the first 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 represent one of the earliest known examples of program music, and an enduring one.
Trivia
- The piece is featured heavily in the Korean film Oldboy.
Media
External links
Violin concertos | Compositions by Antonio Vivaldi
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"The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)"