““Spring” Spring” from from The Four Seasons The Four Seasons

(1725)(1725)Antonio Vivaldi Antonio Vivaldi

The compositionThe composition

The violin concertos were first published in The violin concertos were first published in 1725 as part of a set of twelve concerti, 1725 as part of a set of twelve concerti, Vivaldi's Op. 8, entitled Vivaldi's Op. 8, entitled Il cimento Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventionedell'armonia e dell'inventione (The (The Contest between Harmony and Invention). Contest between Harmony and Invention). The first four concertos were designated The first four concertos were designated Le quattro stagioniLe quattro stagioni, each being named , each being named after a season. Each concerto is in three after a season. Each concerto is in three movements, with a slow movement movements, with a slow movement between two faster ones.between two faster ones.

Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, "La primavera" (Spring) Allegro Largo Allegro Pastorale

Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, "L'estate" (Summer) Allegro non molto Adagio e piano – Presto e forte Presto

Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, "L'autunno" also known as the "Danza Pastorale" (Autumn) Allegro Adagio molto Allegro

Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, "L'inverno" (Winter) Allegro non molto Largo Allegro

Vivaldi's Four Seasons are among the Vivaldi's Four Seasons are among the boldest program music of the baroque boldest program music of the baroque period. Antonio Vivaldi wrote the period. Antonio Vivaldi wrote the individual Sonnets to go along with each individual Sonnets to go along with each movement of the Four Seasons. movement of the Four Seasons.

““Spring” sonnet textSpring” sonnet text

1. Spring has come and joyfully the birds greet it with happy 1. Spring has come and joyfully the birds greet it with happy song, and the brooks, while the streams flow along with song, and the brooks, while the streams flow along with gentle murmur as the zephyrs blow. There come, gentle murmur as the zephyrs blow. There come, shrouding the air with a black cloak, lighting and thunder shrouding the air with a black cloak, lighting and thunder chosen to herald [the storm]; then, when these are silent, chosen to herald [the storm]; then, when these are silent, the little birds return to their melodious incantations. the little birds return to their melodious incantations.

2. And now, in the pleasant, flowery meadow, to the soft 2. And now, in the pleasant, flowery meadow, to the soft murmur of leaves and plants, the goatherd sleeps with murmur of leaves and plants, the goatherd sleeps with his faithful dog at his side. his faithful dog at his side.

3. To the festive sound of a pastoral bagpipe, nymphs and 3. To the festive sound of a pastoral bagpipe, nymphs and shepherds dance under their beloved roof, greeting the shepherds dance under their beloved roof, greeting the glittering arrival of the spring. glittering arrival of the spring.

Original orchestration:Original orchestration:

Solo violin, with string orchestra (violin, Solo violin, with string orchestra (violin, viola, cello, bass, harpsichord)viola, cello, bass, harpsichord)

An analysis of the first An analysis of the first movement of Spring: movement of Spring: “Allegro”“Allegro”

http://youtu.be/kvEcOuJ1oV0http://youtu.be/kvEcOuJ1oV0

The composer:The composer:Antonio Lucio VivaldiAntonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 (4

March 1678 – 28 July March 1678 – 28 July 1741), nicknamed "The 1741), nicknamed "The Red Priest" because of his Red Priest" because of his red hair, was an Italian red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer, priest, Baroque composer, priest, and virtuoso violinist, born and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice. in Venice.

Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread over during his lifetime was widespread over Europe. Europe.

Vivaldi is known mainly for composing Vivaldi is known mainly for composing instrumental concertos, especially for the instrumental concertos, especially for the violin, as well as sacred choral works and violin, as well as sacred choral works and over 40 operas. over 40 operas. The Four SeasonsThe Four Seasons is his is his best-known work.best-known work.

Many of Vivaldi’s compositions were written for the Many of Vivaldi’s compositions were written for the female music ensemble of the female music ensemble of the Ospedale della Ospedale della PietàPietà, a home for abandoned children where , a home for abandoned children where Vivaldi worked from 1703 to 1715 and from 1723 Vivaldi worked from 1703 to 1715 and from 1723 to 1740. to 1740.

Vivaldi also had some success with stagings of his Vivaldi also had some success with stagings of his operas in Venice, Mantua and Vienna. After operas in Venice, Mantua and Vienna. After meeting the Emperor Charles VI, Vivaldi moved meeting the Emperor Charles VI, Vivaldi moved to Vienna hoping for preferment. The Emperor to Vienna hoping for preferment. The Emperor died soon after Vivaldi's arrival, and the died soon after Vivaldi's arrival, and the composer died a pauper, without a steady composer died a pauper, without a steady source of income.source of income.

The Time and PlaceThe Time and Place

The The BaroqueBaroque is a period of artistic style that is a period of artistic style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, architecture, literature, sculpture, painting, architecture, literature, dance, and music. The style started dance, and music. The style started around 1600 in Rome, Italy and spread to around 1600 in Rome, Italy and spread to most of Europe. 1750, the year of J.S. most of Europe. 1750, the year of J.S. Bach’s death, is usually listed as the end Bach’s death, is usually listed as the end of the Baroque. of the Baroque.

PaintingPaintingPaintings depicted images to evoke emotion. The portrait style of painting used light shadows to convey meaning and passion. Baroque artists chose to capture dramatic events that occurred over a period of time.

SculptureSculpture

Human forms and figures constituted a major part of the Baroque culture. The demand for stone sculptures grew steadily during this era. The positioning of statues, interspersed with the use of sunlight and moonlight, were theatrically used in chapels. Marble carvings depicted human emotions on the faces of statues

ArchitictureArchiticture

MusicMusic

Virtuosity became recognized and Virtuosity became recognized and instrumental soloists evolvedinstrumental soloists evolved

Improvisation and ornamentation played an Improvisation and ornamentation played an important role in performanceimportant role in performance

The Opera developed during this period, as The Opera developed during this period, as did the concerto.did the concerto.

Major and minor tonalities evolved and Major and minor tonalities evolved and meter became more consistent.meter became more consistent.

Baroque clothingBaroque clothing

VeniceVenice

San MarcoSan Marco

Important Important events/discoveriesevents/discoveries1600-16091600-1609

Playwright William Shakespeare of England writes Playwright William Shakespeare of England writes OthelloOthello, , King Lear King Lear and and Antony and Cleopatra.Antony and Cleopatra.1610-16191610-1619Pocahontas, daughter of the famed Indian chief of the Powhatans, marries John Rolfe after being Pocahontas, daughter of the famed Indian chief of the Powhatans, marries John Rolfe after being

held for ransom by the English colonists.held for ransom by the English colonists.1620-1629 1620-1629 The The Mayflower, Mayflower, carrying 100 pilgrims, arrives off the North American coast at Plymouthcarrying 100 pilgrims, arrives off the North American coast at Plymouth1630-16391630-1639Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei is threatened with torture if he refuses to withdraw his heretical Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei is threatened with torture if he refuses to withdraw his heretical

propositions supporting a sun-centered solar system; Galileo recants.propositions supporting a sun-centered solar system; Galileo recants.1640-16491640-1649Italian Evangelista Torricelli invents the first barometer, to measure air pressure.Italian Evangelista Torricelli invents the first barometer, to measure air pressure.1650-16591650-1659Clockmaking is revolutionized when Dutch mathematician Christian Huygens introduces the use of Clockmaking is revolutionized when Dutch mathematician Christian Huygens introduces the use of

the pendulum.the pendulum.1660-16691660-1669The production of world-renowned Stradivarius violins begins in Cremona, ItalyThe production of world-renowned Stradivarius violins begins in Cremona, Italy1670-16791670-1679The famous Observatory in Greenwich, England, is founded for astronomical research; the The famous Observatory in Greenwich, England, is founded for astronomical research; the

observatory also establishes a standard time to help determine longitude.observatory also establishes a standard time to help determine longitude.

1680-1689English physicist Isaac Newton defines the laws of gravity and universal laws of motion.1690-1699he infamous witch trials of Salem begin in the colony of Massachusetts, and 20 "witches" are eventually put to death.1700-1709Edmund Halley's studies propose that comets sighted in 1531, 1607, and 1682 are one and the same, and the celestial body is named Halley's Comet inhis honor.1710-1719Physicist Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit invents a thermometer that uses mercury instead of alcohol.1720-1729Inoculation is tested in two smallpox epidemics (in London and Boston) and proved successful.1730-1739Benjamin Franklin founds the first circulating library in North America.1740-1749Scottish physician James Lind discovers that citrus fruit is the only effective cure for scurvy.

GlossaryGlossaryConcerto: Concerto: (1) the (1) the solo concertosolo concerto for one soloist and orchestra, for one soloist and orchestra,

(2) the (2) the concerto grossoconcerto grosso for two or more soloists and for two or more soloists and orchestraorchestra

An An Opus numberOpus number refers to a number generally assigned by refers to a number generally assigned by composers to an individual composition or set of composers to an individual composition or set of compositions on publication, to help identify their works. compositions on publication, to help identify their works.

Program musicProgram music is a type of art music that attempts to is a type of art music that attempts to musically render an extra-musical narrative. The narrative musically render an extra-musical narrative. The narrative itself might be offered to the audience in the form of itself might be offered to the audience in the form of program notes, inviting imaginative correlations with the program notes, inviting imaginative correlations with the music. music.

A A ritornelloritornello (Italian; "little return") is a recurring passage in (Italian; "little return") is a recurring passage in Baroque music for orchestra or chorus. The first or final Baroque music for orchestra or chorus. The first or final movement of a solo concerto may be in "ritornello form", in movement of a solo concerto may be in "ritornello form", in which the ritornello is the opening theme, always played by which the ritornello is the opening theme, always played by tutti, which returns in whole or in part and in different keys tutti, which returns in whole or in part and in different keys throughout the movement. throughout the movement.

ReferencesReferences

http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/baroqueperiod/ss/fourhttp://classicalmusic.about.com/od/baroqueperiod/ss/fourseasons.htmseasons.htmhttp://artsalive.ca/pdf/mus/tour2004/vivaldi2004_en.pdfhttp://artsalive.ca/pdf/mus/tour2004/vivaldi2004_en.pdfhttp://www.baroquemusic.org/vivaldiseasons.htmlhttp://www.baroquemusic.org/vivaldiseasons.htmlhttp://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxvivaldi.htmlhttp://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxvivaldi.htmlhttp://www.allmusic.com/artist/antonio-vivaldi-q8090http://www.allmusic.com/artist/antonio-vivaldi-q8090http://www.classicalscore.com/timeline/baroque.htmlhttp://www.classicalscore.com/timeline/baroque.htmlhttp://library.thinkquest.org/15413/history/history-bar.htmhttp://library.thinkquest.org/15413/history/history-bar.htm