Antonio Vivaldi is recognized as one of greatest composer of the Baroque Era. He was born in Venice on March 4, 1678. Aside from being a composer, Vivaldi was also a priest and an educator. He was given the nickname “Red Priest” due to his red hair. A year after his ordination in 1703, Vivaldi appeared to remove himself of his priestly duties. This might have been due to his health conditions. Vivaldi suffered from tightness of the chest which has since been interpreted as asthma or bronchitis. Because of his connection to the church, Vivaldi music reflects the ideas of the Council of Trent. They believed that music should be accessible and easily understood by everyone. This was helpful when he became an instructor to young student who were new to music. At the age of 25, Vivaldi began working at the Ospedale della Pietà. This was an orphanage for young children who were rumored to be the products of extramarital affairs of noblemen. Through state funding and anonymous donations from the noblemen, the orphans were able to be musically trained by instructors such as Vivaldi. These funds also went towards paying Vivaldi to write his concertos. Vivaldi died on July 28, 1741 of complications from his asthma like sickness.
Music representing the moods of the four seasons has always been popular, and baroque composers such as Werner and Fischer among others produced cycles of concertos representing the fours seasons. But none were to do so in such precise pictorial detail as Antonio Vivaldi in his Four Seasons concertos. Vivaldi's music in films. Vivaldi's music isn't just a concert hall favourite; it's also been featured in many films. Listen out for his Concerto No. 8 from 'L'estro harmonica' in Indecent Proposal, 'The Four Seasons' in Pretty Woman (pictured), and 'Nulla in mundi pax sincera' in Shine.
Of all his work, Vivaldi is most known for his four-part violin concerto the Four Seasons. This concerto, composed in 1723, illustrates the cycle of the seasons: La Primavera (spring), L’estate (summer), L’autunno (autumn), and L’inverno (winter). Each season is written in three movements with the pattern of fast-slow-fast (allegro-largo-allegro). Written according to typical baroque practice, each movement of Vivaldi’s concertos is based on a single rhythmic theme that is heard at the beginning of the section. The first movement in La Primavera is probably the most famous. The fast tempo indicates a delight of the return of spring and all that comes with it. In the beginning, violins imitate the tweeting of the birds who have returned to the warmer weather of spring. The music stops and mimics the sounds of a gentle breeze. Suddenly, the music leaps upward portraying the sound of lighting. The sounds of a storm can be heard which announce the arrival of the wet weather that accompanies spring. The violins express the ferocity of the winds while the lower strings hint to the sound of thunder. Once the storm passes, the birds can be heard singing their lovely tunes. This section ends with the happy feeling that was heard in the beginning.
I think the Vivaldi’s the Four Seasons masterfully done. The section that stood out to me was La Primavera because I love spring. It’s a time that signifies renewal and beauty. I love everything associated with springtime. I enjoy the sounds of the rain and thunderstorms. It has this strange calming effect on me. There’s nothing more beautiful than the assortment colors and the sweet scents brought by the flowers in bloom. After the cold of the winter, a dose of spring is just what the doctor ordered. The first section of Vivaldi’s concerto surrounds me with the scents and feelings of spring. Through various techniques of the baroque era, Vivaldi is able to capture the emotions and moods of the four seasons. I have uploaded the complete composition. If you have the time, I encourage you to listen to all four sections. Allow the music to take you away and enjoy the nostalgic stroll through each season.
Antonio Vivaldi is known as the “Father of the Concerto”. Over his career he wrote over 450 concertos, both in solo and grosso form. With as many as he wrote, he solidified the structure of the form: three movements in a FAST-SLOW-FAST tempo organization.
His most famous concertos are La Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons). And of those La Primavera (The Spring) is the biggest hit. Each of these concertos is a solo concerto for violin. During his time, when performing these works, Vivaldi would act as conductor and soloist for the performance. Keep in mind, our modern concept of the conduct was not define until the Romantic Era (1800s).
Characteristically, concertos of the Baroque period including Vivaldi’s, the first and third movements are written in what is known as ritornello form. The ritornello meaning return, or refrain, played by the orchestra would alternate with solo sections for the featured player to show off their skills. Listening to the first movement of Spring, you’ll hear this alternation five time, with a final ritornello to finish the piece. The third movement is in the same form but shorter three alternations of orchestra/soloist followed by a final ritornello. To help describe the form, let’s call the orchestra section A, and the solo sections B. So the form of the first movement is AB-AB-AB-AB-AB-A; and the third movement AB-AB-AB-A.
A unique characteristic of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is that they are an early example of what are called programmatic works. Programmatic meaning a piece has a written story that is to be portray in the music heard. This could by based on a book, play, poem, etc. Over the years, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has been a regular story used for programmatic works. For the Four Seasons, Vivaldi wrote a short poem for each movement of each concerto.
Baby Vivaldi Soundtrack
Vivaldi’s poem for Spring:
Vivaldi uses these poems to tell his story in music. He pulls some influence from opera, and its use of word painting. Though normally linked with vocal works, Vivaldi use text painting, aka word painting, portray the scenes and sounds of Spring. Listen closely for the (1st mvmt) singing birds, murmuring streams, thunder and lightning, (2nd mvmt) relaxing in an open field, and (3rd mvmt) festive celebration of the coming of the season.
Vivaldi Soundtrack
What sort of effects do you hear from the strings to illustrate these sounds and characters?