The Four Seasons (Vivaldi) Explained

The Four Seasons (Italian: '''Le quattro stagioni''') is a group of four violin concerti by Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, each of which gives musical expression to a season of the year. These were composed around 1718–1720, when Vivaldi was the court chapel master in Mantua. They were published in 1725 in Amsterdam, together with eight additional concerti, as Italian: [[Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione]] (The Contest Between Harmony and Invention).

The Four Seasons is the best known of Vivaldi's works. Though three of the concerti are wholly original, the first, "Spring", borrows patterns from a sinfonia in the first act of Vivaldi's contemporaneous opera Il Giustino. The inspiration for the concertos is not the countryside around Mantua, as initially supposed, where Vivaldi was living at the time, since according to Karl Heller[1] they could have been written as early as 1716–1717, while Vivaldi was engaged with the court of Mantua only in 1718.

They were a revolution in musical conception: Vivaldi represented flowing creeks, singing birds (of different species, each specifically characterized), a shepherd and his barking dog, buzzing flies, storms, drunken dancers, hunting parties from both the hunters' and the prey's point of view, frozen landscapes, and warm winter fires.

Unusually for the period, Vivaldi published the concerti with accompanying sonnets (possibly written by the composer himself) that elucidated what it was in the spirit of each season that his music was intended to evoke. The concerti therefore stand as one of the earliest and most detailed examples of what would come to be called program music—in other words, music with a narrative element. Vivaldi took great pains to relate his music to the texts of the poems, translating the poetic lines themselves directly into the music on the page. For example, in the middle section of "Spring", when the goatherd sleeps, his barking dog can be heard in the viola section. The music is elsewhere similarly evocative of other natural sounds. Vivaldi divided each concerto into three movements (fast–slow–fast), and, likewise, each linked sonnet into three sections.

Structure

Vivaldi's arrangement is as follows:

  1. Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, "Spring" (La primavera)
  2. Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, "Summer" (L'estate)
  3. Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, "Autumn" (L'autunno)
  4. Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, "Winter" (L'inverno)

A performance of all four concerti may take about 40–43 minutes. Approximate timings of the individual concerti:[2]

  1. Spring: 10 minutes
  2. Summer: 11 minutes
  3. Autumn: 11 minutes
  4. Winter: 9 minutes

Sonnets and allusions

There is some debate as to whether the four concertos were written to accompany four sonnets or vice versa.[3] Though it is not known who wrote the accompanying sonnets, the theory that Vivaldi wrote them is supported by the fact that each sonnet is broken into three sections, each neatly corresponding to a movement in the concerto. Regardless of the sonnets' authorship, The Four Seasons can be classified as program music, instrumental music intended to evoke something extra-musical,[4] and an art form which Vivaldi was determined to prove sophisticated enough to be taken seriously.[5]

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").

A new translation of the sonnets into English by Armand D'Angour was published in 2019.[6]

Sonnet text

SonnetItalianEnglish
SpringAllegroGiunt' è la Primavera e festosettiLa Salutan gl' Augei con lieto canto,E i fonti allo Spirar de' ZeffirettiCon dolce mormorio Scorrono intanto:Vengon' coprendo l' aer di nero amantoE Lampi, e tuoni ad annuntiarla elettiIndi tacendo questi, gl' Augelletti;Tornan' di nuovo al lor canoro incanto:

LargoE quindi sul fiorito ameno pratoAl caro mormorio di fronde e pianteDorme 'l Caprar col fido can' à lato.

Allegro mandolin concertoDi pastoral Zampogna al suon festanteDanzan Ninfe e Pastor nel tetto amatoDi primavera all' apparir brillante.

AllegroSpringtime is upon us. The birds celebrate her return with festive song,and murmuring streams aresoftly 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.

LargoOn the flower-strewn meadow, with leafy branchesrustling overhead, the goat-herd sleeps,his faithful dog beside him.

AllegroLed by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes,nymphs and shepherds lightly dancebeneath spring’s beautiful canopy.

SummerAllegro non moltoSotto dura Staggion dal Sole accesaLangue l' huom, langue 'l gregge, ed arde il Pino;Scioglie il Cucco la Voce, e tosto intesaCanta la Tortorella e 'l gardelino.Zeffiro dolce Spira, mà contesaMuove Borea improviso al Suo vicino;E piange il Pastorel, perche sospesaTeme fiera borasca, e 'l suo destino;

Adagio e piano – Presto e forteToglie alle membra lasse il Suo riposoIl timore de' Lampi, e tuoni fieriE de mosche, e mosconi il Stuol furioso!

PrestoAh, che pur troppo i Suo timor Son veriTuona e fulmina il Ciel e grandinosoTronca il capo alle Spiche e a' grani alteri.

Allegro non moltoUnder a hard season, fired up by the sunLanguishes man, languishes the flock and burns the pineWe hear the cuckoo's voice;then sweet songs of the turtledove and finch are heard.Soft breezes stir the air, but threateningthe North Wind sweeps them suddenly aside.The shepherd trembles,fearing violent storms and his fate.

Adagio e piano – Presto e forteThe fear of lightning and fierce thunderRobs his tired limbs of restAs gnats and flies buzz furiously around.

PrestoAlas, his fears were justifiedThe Heavens thunder and roar and with hailCut the head off the wheat and damages the grain.

AutumnAllegroCelebra il Vilanel con balli e CantiDel felice raccolto il bel piacereE del liquor de Bacco accesi tantiFiniscono col Sonno il lor godere.

Adagio moltoFà ch' ogn' uno tralasci e balli e cantiL' aria che temperata dà piacere,E la Staggion ch' invita tanti e tantiD' un dolcissimo Sonno al bel godere.

Allegrocacciator alla nov' alba à cacciaCon corni, Schioppi, e cani escono fuoreFugge la belva, e Seguono la traccia;Già Sbigottita, e lassa al gran rumoreDe' Schioppi e cani, ferita minacciaLanguida di fuggir, mà oppressa muore.

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

Adagio moltoEveryone is made to forget their cares and to sing and danceBy the air which is tempered with pleasureAnd (by) the season that invites so many, manyOut of their sweetest slumber to fine enjoyment

AllegroThe hunters emerge at the new dawn,And with horns and dogs and guns depart upon their huntingThe beast flees and they follow its trail;Terrified and tired of the great noiseOf guns and dogs, the beast, wounded, threatensLanguidly to flee, but harried, dies.

WinterAllegro non moltoAgghiacciato tremar trà nevi algentiAl Severo Spirar d' orrido Vento,Correr battendo i piedi ogni momento;E pel Soverchio gel batter i denti;

LargoPassar al foco i dì quieti e contentiMentre la pioggia fuor bagna ben cento

AllegroCaminar Sopra il giaccio, e à passo lentoPer timor di cader girsene intenti;Gir forte Sdruzziolar, cader à terraDi nuove ir Sopra 'l giaccio e correr forteSin ch' il giaccio si rompe, e si disserra;Sentir uscir dalle ferrate porteSirocco, Borea, e tutti i Venti in guerraQuest' é 'l verno, mà tal, che gioja apporte.

Allegro non moltoTo tremble from cold in the icy snow,In the harsh breath of a horrid wind;To run, stamping one's feet every moment,Our teeth chattering in the extreme cold

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

AllegroWe 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 homedespite the locked and bolted doors...this is winter, which nonethelessbrings its own delights.

Recording history

The date and personnel on the first recording of The Four Seasons are disputed. There is a compact disc of a recording made by the violinist Alfredo Campoli taken from acetates of a French radio broadcast; these are thought to date from early in 1939.[7] The first proper electrical recording was made in 1942 by Bernardino Molinari; though his is a somewhat different interpretation from modern performances, it is clearly recognisable as The Four Seasons. Molinari's recording was made for Cetra, and was issued in Italy and subsequently in the United States on six double-sided 78s, in the 1940s. It was then reissued on long-playing album in 1950, and, later, on compact disc.[8]

The first American recording was made in the final week of 1947 by the violinist Louis Kaufman.[9] The recording was made at Carnegie Hall in advance of a scheduled recording ban effective 1 January 1948.[10] The performers were The Concert Hall Chamber Orchestra under Henry Swoboda, Edith Weiss-Mann (harpsichord) and Edouard Nies-Berger (organ).[11] This recording helped the re-popularisation of Vivaldi's music in the mainstream repertoire of Europe and America following on the work done by Molinari and others in Italy.[10] It won the French Grand Prix du Disque in 1950, was elected to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002, and was selected the following year for the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress. Kaufman, intrigued to learn that the four concertos were in fact part of a set of twelve, set about finding a full score and eventually recorded the other eight concertos in Zürich in 1950, making his the first recording of Vivaldi's complete Op. 8.[12]

The ensemble I Musici has recorded The Four Seasons probably more often than any other established musical group to date: The debut recording in 1955 with Felix Ayo; again with Ayo in 1959, this time in stereo — the very first stereo recording of the work; subsequent recordings featuring Roberto Michelucci (1969), the highly acclaimed 1982 recording with Pina Carmirelli, Federico Agostini (1988), Mariana Sîrbu (1995), Antonio Anselmi (2012) and Marco Fiorini (2021). There is also a video recording of The Four Seasons performed by I Musici in Antonio Vivaldi's hometown of Venice, filmed by Anton van Munster in 1988.

The 1969 Argo recording by the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields conducted by Neville Marriner and featuring the soloist Alan Loveday sold over half a million copies; it became the ensemble's first gold record.[13]

I Solisti di Zagreb, under the baton of Antonio Janigro with Jan Tomasow as violin soloist and Anton Heiller on harpsichord, followed in 1957 on the Vanguard label, further reissued under the Philips and other labels. Wilfrid Mellers, an English music critic, musicologist and composer wrote of this performance, "the soloists phrase their lyricism beautifully." John Thornton wrote about this recording, "Here is matchless ensemble playing, topped by Tomasow's secure playing. Janigro reveals his talent for conducting, which competes with his considerable talent for cello playing."[14]

Ivan Supek wrote of this recording:

Paul Shoemaker wrote about this recording:

Nigel Kennedy's 1989 recording of The Four Seasons with the English Chamber Orchestra sold over copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling classical works ever.[15] [16] The marketing of Kennedy's record was described as "the first time that a classical artist had been given the full pop marketing treatment", with a promotional single, and advertisements on billboards, TV and radio.

Gil Shaham and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra recorded The Four Seasons as well as a music video for the first movement of "Winter" that was featured regularly on The Weather Channel in the mid-1990s.

Surround sound versions of the piece have been issued on Super Audio CD by Richard Tognetti, Pinchas Zukerman, Jonathan Carney and Rachel Podger.

The World's Encyclopedia of Recorded Music in 1952 cites only two recordings of The Four Seasons – by Molinari and Kaufman., approximately 1,000 recorded versions have been made since Campoli's in 1939.

In 2009, all four concertos were arranged for piano by pianist Jeffrey Biegel.

Classical musicians have sought to distinguish their recordings of The Four Seasons, with historically informed performances, and embellishments, to the point of varying the instruments and tempi, or playing notes differently from the listener's expectation (whether specified by the composer or not).[17] It is said that Vivaldi's work presents such opportunities for improvisation.[18] Many period-based ensembles have recorded The Four Seasons, including La Serenissima under the direction of Adrian Chandler who recorded the Manchester version of The Four Seasons, The English Concert under the direction of Trevor Pinnock, the Academy of Ancient Music under the direction of Christopher Hogwood and Europa Galante under the direction of Fabio Biondi.

Reception

The Four Seasons was voted #67 in the Classic FM Hall of Fame. Three of the four concerti were included in the Classic 100 Concerto listing.

Derivative works

Derivative works of these concerti include arrangements, transcriptions, covers, remixes, samples, and parodies in music — themes in theater and opera, soundtracks in films (or video games), and choreography in ballet (along with contemporary dance, figure skating, rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, etc.) — either in their entirety, single movements, or medleys. Antonio Vivaldi appears to have started this trend of adapting music from The Four Seasons, and since then it has expanded into many aspects of the performing arts (as have other instrumental & vocal works by the composer). This contest between harmony and invention (as it were) now involves various genres around the world:

1726 (or 1734)
1727 (or 1730, 1731)
1739
1765
1775
1969
1970
1972
1976
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1982
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1998
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External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Heller, Karl. Antonio Vivaldi, The Red Priest of Venice. limited. Amadesu Press. 1997. 978-1-57467-015-8. Portland, Oregon. 171.
  2. Book: Philip, Robert . The Classical Music Lover's Companion to Orchestral Music . . 2018 . 875 . 9780300120691 .
  3. Book: Everett, Paul. Vivaldi: The Four Seasons and Other Concertos, Op. 8. 1996. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. 978-0521404990. 76. registration.
  4. Web site: Christine Lee Gengaro. Program notes: Four Seasons. Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. https://web.archive.org/web/20120715101739/http://www.laco.org/performances/116/?program=1. 15 July 2012.
  5. Web site: Andrew Mellor Sinfini Music . The secret behind the Four Seasons . Sinfini Music . 2013-03-14 . 2014-08-24.
  6. https://www.armand-dangour.com/2017/07/vivaldis-four-sonnets/ "Vivaldi's Four Sonnets"
  7. Pearl GEMM CD 9151
  8. Two versions are available, one with more extensive sleeve notes giving the political background and history of the work's rediscovery issued by Ermitage ERC CD 12006-2.
  9. Web site: Bowling . Lance . 8.110297-98 – VIVALDI: 12 Violin Concertos, Op. 8 / The 4 Seasons (Kaufman) (1947, 1950) . Naxos Records . 27 October 2018.
  10. News: Jeremy Eichler . The Masterpiece That Took 200 Years to Become Timeless . The New York Times . 2005-02-27 . 2018-01-06.
  11. Concert Hall Records, CHS. set AR; reissued on Naxos Historical 8.110297-98.
    1. CHS.CHC 1064 (#Nix.CLP 1061-1/2)
  12. News: Andrew Clements . Neville Marriner – ten of his best recordings . The Guardian . 2016-10-04 . 2018-01-06.
  13. Thornton. John. October 1958. Stereo Disc Reviews. HiFi/Stereo Review. 1. 9. 88. vintagevacuumaudio.com.
  14. Web site: Brunning . John . 3 September 2014 . How Nigel Kennedy changed classical music forever . https://web.archive.org/web/20140905201652/http://www.classicfm.com/artists/nigel-kennedy/news/vivaldi-four-seasons-conversation/ . 2014-09-05 . 2014-09-05 . .
  15. News: Not quite Vivaldi: Nigel Kennedy remembers Hendrix . Steve . Wright . CNN . 23 August 1999 .
  16. Performing Vivaldi, Interview with Nemanja Radulovic, featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel)
  17. Performing Vivaldi, Interview with Aisslinn Nosky, featured on YouTube (producer's channel).
  18. Spáčilová . Jana . 2013 . Brněnská opera Argippo z roku 1733 ve světle nových výzkumů . . cs . Brno . 13 . 2 . 9 . 0862-8505 .
  19. Spáčilová . Jana . 2014 . Unbekannte Brünner Oratorien Neapolitanischer Komponisten vor 1740 . Musicologica Brunensia . de . Brno . . 49 . 1 . 143 . 10.5817/MB2014-1-9 . 11222.digilib/130209 . 1212-0391. free .
  20. Book: Hopkins, Translated by Bill . Antonio Vivaldi; his life and work . 1970 . University of California Press . Berkeley . 978-0-520-01629-3 . 87.
  21. [Jean-Jacques Rousseau]
  22. https://www.dolcimelo.com/store/ED-B00303 Le Printemps de Vivaldi
  23. Moe Koffman "The Four Seasons", GRT or Derby record label, Discogs listing.
  24. New Koto Ensemble "Koto Four Seasons", Discogs listing.
  25. Michael Franks, "Vivaldi's song", "Burchfield Nines" album.
  26. WoongSan, "Vivaldi's Song", album "Close Your Eyes" (Pony Canyon label).
  27. Ben Shedd, "Seasons", listed on IMDB; trailer featured on Vimeo (photagrapher's channel).
  28. Flute "Jean-Pierre Rampal Plays Vivaldi's Four Seasons", Sony Classical (53105), Allmusic listing.
  29. Arnie Roth, "The Compleat Four Seasons", listed on Allmusic.
  30. The Baronics "Get Bach!", on Discogs.
  31. The Great Kat, "Bloody Vivaldi", album.
  32. Vanessa-Mae "Storm", album.
  33. Chinese Baroque Players "Four Seasons", Xien Records (XNC2 44032), Allmusic listing
  34. Venice Harp Quartet "Four Seasons for Four Harps", Fine Classics (4423–2), Allmusic listing.
  35. Primavera Tango "Flamenco Fantasy", on Discogs.
  36. Brusch & Mikkelsen "The Four Seasons", Classico CLASSCD333
  37. Ferhan & Ferzan discography "Vivaldi Reflections", EMI classics. Retrieved on 23 June 2013.
  38. Susan Osborn, "Winter/Vivaldi", album "Still Life" (Pony Canyon label).
  39. The Charades, "Vivaldi's Summer Twist", album "As Hot As Cool Can Be" (Power Records).
  40. Red Priest's "Four Seasons" (Dorian 90317), Allmusic listing.
  41. http://vimeo.com/album/1883640/video/20603011 "The Four Seasons Mosaic"
  42. Frets on Fire "Dark Moor's winter", featured on YouTube (open source gameplay recording).
  43. Accentus "Transcriptions 2", on Discogs.
  44. [Celtic Woman: A New Journey]
  45. PercaDu (Tomer Yariv and Adi Morag), "Vivaldi, winter arr for marimbas", featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  46. LesGrandsBallets "Les quatre saisons", featured on YouTube (producer's channel).
  47. Tim Slade "4", listed on IMDB.
  48. Information about CD "국악으로 듣는 비발디의 사계 (in Korean)", on Aladin Communication Inc.
  49. Jaroslav Sveceny & Michal Dvorak "Vivaldianno MMVIII", featured on Vimeo (recording artist's channel).
  50. Yves Custeau "Vivaldi Rock Spring", featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  51. Daisy Jopling, "Winter (hip hop)", album "Key to the Classics", "Winter (reggae)", featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  52. Innesa Tymochko, "Vivaldi's Storm", featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  53. Wez Bolton, "Winter (cover version)", featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  54. Patrick Chan, "2008 Nationals", featured on YouTube (channel for the skater).
  55. Absynth Against Anguish "The Four Seasons 2.0", creative commons audio.
  56. Riccardo Arrighini, "Le quattro stagioni", album "Vivaldi in Jazz".
  57. Christophe Monniot, "Vivaldi Universel, Saison 5", Cristal Records (CR 149).
  58. BlinDChriS "Vivaldi Dead Springs", creative commons media.
  59. Art Color Ballet "Vivaldi 4 Elements", featured on YouTube (producer's channel).
  60. David Garrett "Vivaldi/Vertigo", album "Rock Symphonies", featured on Vimeo (producer's channel).
  61. Black Smith "Vivaldi Tribute", Against all odds (DVD), featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  62. Angels Ensembles, "Angels Summer", featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  63. Szentpeteri Csilla, "Storm – Crossover", featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  64. Leonel Valbom, "Summer Vivaldi", featured on SoundCloud (recording artist's channel).
  65. Tim Kliphuis "Spring – Gypsy Jazz and Celtic version", "Live at Iford Manor" (DVD), featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  66. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JqHKlPz7c4 "「四季」より夏(新堀ギターアンサンブル) Niibori Guitar Ensemble playing The Four Seasons: Summer by NiiboriTV"
  67. Web site: Night in Istanbul by Olga Show on Apple Music. iTunes. 23 August 2016. en. 2017-03-08.
  68. Web site: Save the Street Musicians by Olga Show on Apple Music. iTunes. 27 May 2016. en. 2017-03-08.
  69. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine:
  70. News: Album: Max Richter, Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Recomposed By Max Richter (Deutsche Grammophon). https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-max-richter-vivaldi-the-four-seasons-recomposed-by-max-richter-deutsche-grammophon-8226832.html . 2022-06-18 . subscription . live. Gill. Andy. 27 October 2012. Independent. London. 27 December 2012.
  71. Aura discography "Le Quattro Stagioni", EPIC Records (ESCL 3932). Retrieved on 3 June 2013.
  72. Sinfonity "The Four Seasons", live in Madrid, featured on Vimeo (recording artist's channel).
  73. Bachod Chirmof, "Midi Animation – Vivaldi", featured on Vimeo (recording artist's channel).
  74. Tornado Classic, "Vivaldi Summer", featured on Vimeo (producer's channel).
  75. Richard Galliano, DG Label "Vivaldi" (featured on artist's site).
  76. Vito Paternoster "The Four Seasons in forma di sonata for cello" ("Baryton BRT 006", tracks featured on Magnatune).
  77. The Periodic project & Lennart Wittenhagen "Vier Jahreszeiten", featured on Vimeo (recording artist's channel).
  78. A Vivaldi Compendium "Midseasons", creative commons media, featured on YouTube (producer's channel).
  79. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/arts/music/afghan-ensembles-at-carnegie-hall.html ‘Bolero’ on Instruments Ravel Never Dreamed Of
  80. The Piano Guys – "Let it Go (Disney's "Frozen") Vivaldi Winter", featured on YouTube (group's channel).
  81. Web site: The Four Seasons. www.astronomusic.com.
  82. Web site: Le quattro stagioni (Vivaldi, Antonio) – IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library: Free Public Domain Sheet Music. imslp.org. 2016-11-22.
  83. Web site: Vivaldi, Piazzolla, Shor: The 12 Seasons. Carpenter. David Aaron. April 15, 2016. Warner Classics.
  84. Web site: For Seasons. October 14, 2021.
  85. Web site: The Four Seasons – A World Premiere.
  86. Web site: The [uncertain] Four Seasons]. October 14, 2021.
  87. Web site: The Four Seasons . 2022-11-04 . La Serenissima . en-GB.