His tired limbs are roused from rest, frightened by the lightning bolts and roaring thunder, as flies and gnats swarm furiously. Nigel Kennedy - Vivaldi 'Summer' 1st Movement:Ģnd Movement ('Summer') Adagio e piano - Presto e forte The little shepherd sobs in fear of the violent storm.and his destiny. Gentle western breezes blow.until the ominous north winds suddenly sweep them away. We hear the call of the cuckoo, followed by sweet songs of the turtle dove and finch. The style of music is easily recognized and the mastery of it is something that many people would agree is something that is hard to resist. Under the harsh season's blazing sun, men and flocks languish and pines are scorched. The Four Seasons that he made so famous was written in 1721 and released in 1725 and still stands as one of his greatest works. 8, RV 315, 'L'estate' (Summer)ġst Movement ('Summer') Allegro non molto Read the 'Summer' sonnet and listen to each movement of The Four Seasons, Concerto No. Each sonnet is divided into three sections (fast, slow, fast), which correspond with the three movements in each concerto. Each of the four concerti is based on a sonnet -supposedly written by Vivaldi himself. Comprised of four violin concertos written by Antonio Vivaldi in 1723, The Four Seasons is probably the Baroque composer's best-known work. The fear of lightning and fierce thunder Robs his tired limbs of rest As gnats and flies buzz furiously around.Īlas, his fears were justified The Heavens thunder and roar and with hail Cut the head off the wheat and damages the grain.Īvailable on Oclassica YourTube channel. The shepherd trembles, fearing violent storms and his fate. Soft breezes stir the air, but threatening the North Wind sweeps them suddenly aside.

Under a hard season, fired up by the sun Languishes man, languishes the flock and burns the pine We hear the cuckoo’s voice then sweet songs of the turtledove and finch are heard. The concerto is written in the key of G minor, which was often used in Vivaldi’s time to convey fear and a sense of menace.

“Summer”, the second concerto of Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”, is by no means a cheerful, warm season according to the composer’s imagination. “The Four Seasons” composed around 1718−1720 was a revolution in baroque music: Vivaldi depicted the sounds of flowing creeks, singing birds, a shepherd and his barking dog, buzzing flies, storms, drunken dancers, hunting, landscapes, and sounds of fireplace. The cycle, consisting of four concertos, is an example of program music: each concerto is dedicated to a season and is introduced by a sonnet that reveals the images generated by the music. “The Four Seasons” is one of the most famous works by Vivaldi and Baroque music in general.

Vivaldi summer