Antonio Vivaldi’s Four seasons; music review

The Four Seasons, the most popular Baroque music in history, was composed by Antonio Vivaldi in 1723. He was an Italian Baroque composer who was born in 1678 in Venice. He is known mainly for composing instrumental concertos, especially for the violin. While I was researching The Four seasons, the beautiful melody and themes entranced me. He seemed to express the characteristics of four seasons.

Each season has specific theme as it goes as along with four sonnets, which makes his music classified as program music (music that intends to evoke something extra musical). There is a theory that Vivaldi wrote music with sonnets and given that each sonnet; spring, summer, fall or winter, is broken down into three sections. Each movement has slow movement between two faster ones which is pretty obcious if you listen carefuly.

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The first movement, which is called spring, starts with the song and dance of the birds. But then suddenly, tension is created as if there’s a thunder-storm from the sky nominated for the spring (music 3:30). The bird’s song and dance continues after it stops. Then the music slows down into Largo. In this section, the music created is a more curious and mysterious mood. The melody seems softer and calmer and there is less tension, according to slow movement. Then it turns faster again into Allegro as if the shepherd who was asleep suddenly awakes and dances. (music 5:30)

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The next movement is summer. The start of this section is slow but has high tension according to summer’s hot weather which express that the people and the animals are all exhausted under the sun. When the tension suddenly changes as the music goes faster, it shows that the birds are crying and the wind is blowing because of the summer storm. Then the music turns into Adagio which presents the fear of mosquitoes after the storm is gone(music 5:27). Then the last section of the summer is the speed of presto which is pretty fast to express the violence of the supper. (music 7:38)

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The third movement, Fall, starts with peaceful melody  as all the villagers are having a party to celebrate the fruitful year. The tension is getting higher as people get drunk. But suddenly it slows down into calm because the people are all invited to fall asleep. (music 2:23-3:10) However all of a sudden, the music suddenly changes speed as if people are awake in the morning and hunters are go hunting with their dogs and chasing the animals. (music 8:00)

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In the last movement of the four seasons, winter, the music starts with high tension from the beginning as if the people are trembling in the cold snow (like us this week..!) Since the winter is the most dangerous season in the year, it creates the most interesting melody in this music. On the first section, Vivaldi shows that the cold wind is blowing and people are stamping their feet from the cold and shivering. In the middle, the music shows that people are having a nice time beside the stove with beautiful violin melody. (music 3:10) Then the speed changes as usual like the people are walking on the ice with caution and a violent wind is coming through the chink of the door.(music 5:50)

Enjoy =D