“The Four Seasons” by Antonio Lucio Vivaldi is one the most remarkable masterpieces of the world music history. It is available for listening on almost every musical website, for ex. you can find it at http://magnatune.com/all/abaroque-seasons_128.mp3 A unique representative of Italian art, Vivaldi composed them in 1723.
“The Four Seasons” are considered to be one of the best artworks in Baroque music epoch which lasted from 1600 to 1750. First published in Amsterdam in 1725, they were a part of Opus 8, entitled “The Contest between Harmony and Invention”.
Today we can hear many different versions with solo instruments, but initially the leading party was performed by violin. This can be heard in the classical performance of the piece. Other instruments used for the performance are viola, cello, flute, oboe, horn, percussion and trumpet.
Each of the four pieces has its unique tempo that reveals the main features of corresponding season.
Spring depicts the whole atmosphere of a sunny day and birds singing, followed by the sounds of nature. As in most of Vivaldi’s concerts, solo is violin, supporting the melody that is often called monophonic. The tempo of Spring changes from Allegro to Largo and back to Allegro.
The tempo of Summer is Allegro non molto changing to Adagio e piano, Presto and Presto e forte.
The tempo of autumn is Allegro that transfers to Adagio molto, Allegro; the author uses “echo” and “forte” and “piano” combinations to support the mood of the piece.
Winter has a fast and lively tempo, non molto Allegro and Largo like Spring; it starts quite and flows in the same way all through the piece, intersecting with loud lively strings of violin and viola.
Being one of the most popular masterpieces of Baroque epoch, “The Four Seasons” possess its distinctive features –lively tempos, energy and tension.
The form of the piece is four concertos for a solo each accompanied by the sonnet.
Even though I heard this piece for many times before, “The Four Seasons” do not cease to gain my interest. This masterpiece is never out of date and deserves for the mark 9 for being attractive.
