Poetry and music – Vivaldi’s Winter

Antonio Vivaldi published his famous group of violin concertos, The Four Seasons, in 1768 at the age of forty-seven. They were what was known as “programme music”, or music written to depict specific scenes, which was looked down upon by some at the time. But Vivaldi’s compositions rose above the typical programme music of the day, creating a quartet of classics that are still heard today.

What makes them so popular? They are certainly catchy, though there is also a note of melancholy that runs through each of them, especially in the slow movements. And of course, nature is a theme that resonates with nearly everyone. Many composers have written pieces inspired by nature, but somehow The Four Seasons has captured the public’s imagination like none other.

Each composition is accompanied by a sonnet, written by Vivaldi himself, which describes the scenes depicted in the music. Below is a translation of the Winter sonnet, along with a video of the great violinist Itzhak Perlman playing the concerto. See if you can recognize the scenes as they are brought to life in the music.

Winter – Concerto in f-minor

1. Allegro non molto
   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.

2. Largo
   To rest contentedly beside the hearth, while those outside are drenched by pouring rain.

3. Allegro
   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 coarse through the home despite the locked and bolted doors…
   this is winter, which nonetheless brings its own delights.

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