Vivaldi Seasons
Composers
A Venetian composer in the 1700s, Vivaldi’s work for the Ospedale della Pieta, a home for abandoned children was renowned for excellence in music education for its time. His famous work, “The Four Seasons” gives musical expression to a season of the year and provides one of the earliest examples of music with a narrative element! And that is why most religions have festivals during the start of Spring (Easter) and the winter equinox (Christmas) Now regarding Vivaldi. Vivaldi probably didn't give it a thought why he chose 'Spring' as the first season, since this is the way we normally think of the seasons. Starting with Spring. Today, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons is ubiquitous, so that few of us can even recall the first time we heard it; but it’s a relatively late entry into the canon. Although it may have been broadcast as early as 1939, it was virtually unknown before the release of a recording made in late 1947 by violinist Louis Kaufman. Vivaldi's Four Seasons were written between 1716 and 1717 and were published in Amsterdam. This is a compilation of all the four seasons. Please like, share. Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons is a composition that features on a 2012 album by neo-classical composer Max Richter, released on August 31, 2012 on Universal Classics and Jazz (Germany), a division of Universal Music Group, and Deutsche Grammophon, and further recorded by Fenella Humphreys and released on Rubicon Classics in 2019.
Antonio Vivaldi
March 04, 1678 - July 28, 1741
Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice, Italy, which is where he spent most of his life. His father taught him to play the violin, and the two would often perform together.
Antonio continued to study and practice the violin, even after he became a priest. He was called the 'Red Priest' because of his flaming red hair. However, after a while, his bad asthma kept Antonio from saying Mass.
After that, Vivaldi spent all his time writing music and teaching. He taught at an orphanage for girls, and wrote a lot of music for the girls to play. People came from miles around to hear Vivaldi's talented students perform the beautiful music he had written.
Many people think Vivaldi was the best Italian composer of his time. He wrote concertos, operas, church music and many other compositions. In all, Antonio wrote over 500 concertos. His most famous set of concertos is The Four Seasons.
Music by Vivaldi:
The Four Seasons: Spring
Duration: 3:33
Composed in 1723 (Baroque Period)
Performed by Capella Istropolitana; Stephen Gunzenhauser, conductor
Shows about Vivaldi:
Vivaldi Seasons Piano
Lesson Plan
Educators, there is a Lesson Plan available on this site for Antonio Vivaldi. Click here to learn more.
| THE FOUR SEASONS: 1: Concerto No.1 in E Major, RV 269, 'SPRING' 2: Concerto No.2 in g minor, RV 315, 'SUMMER' 3: Concerto No.3 in F Major, RV 293, 'AUTUMN' 4: Concerto No.4 in f minor, RV 297, 'WINTER' One of the earliest uses of music was in the accompaniment of theatrical dance and story-telling, so it is natural that composers should from time to time produce what we know as 'program music' – music written to portray events, activities or moods such as pastoral scenes or storms. Music representing the moods of the four seasons has always been popular, and baroque composers such as Werner and Fischer among others produced cycles of concertos representing the fours seasons. But none were to do so in such precise pictorial detail as Antonio Vivaldi in his Four Seasons concertos. As a descriptive basis for his Four Seasons, Vivaldi took four Sonnets, apparently written by himself. Each of the four sonnets is expressed in a concerto, which in turn is divided into three phrases or ideas, reflected in the three movements (fast-slow-fast) of each concerto. The published scores (by Estienne Roger of Amsterdam in 1725) are marked to indicate which musical passages are representative of which verses of the sonnet. It is advisable, at least during the first few hearings, to follow the sonnets and music together, for they are bound up with one another to an extent rarely heard in any other programmatic pieces either of the baroque period or subsequently. |
Vivaldi Seasons Summer
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Vivaldi Seasons Imslp
| ANTONIO VIVALDI (1678-1741): The FOUR SEASONS The Modena Chamber Orchestra, Leader, and solo violin, Francesco Calvi Caterina Montanari, harpsichord continuo GLORIA in D, RV 589 Mimi Coertse & Ina Dressel, sopranos / Sonja Draxler, alto Vienna Academy Chorus & State Opera Orchestra Conductor Hermann Scherchen | |
This lyrical performance by the Modena Chamber Orchestra under Maestro Calvi reflects every detail of the original sonnets.... the birds of spring, a summer storm, the peasants' revelries when the autumn harvest is completed, the chattering teeth as the winter wind blows. English text of the sonnets is enclosed with the CD. 'Four Seasons' recordings are usually accompanied on a CD by some similar string concertos. The Baroque Music Club CD however has taken the opportunity to offer something different and a complete contrast in sound, with Vivaldi's magnificent Gloria in a wonderful performance full of sensitivity and detailing. Here on one CD is something familiar, something perhaps a little less known. The Gloria will certainly prove a revelation to those unfamiliar with it. Total Time: 74:51. Click the image for full information and music samples. |
Vivaldi Seasons Winter
Classical Music Four Seasons Vivaldi