The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)

Antonio Vivaldi (engraving by François Morellon de La Cave)

The Four Seasons (Italian: Le quattro stagioni) is a group of four violin concerti by Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, each of which gives a musical expression to a season of the year. They were written about 1723 and were published in 1725 in Amsterdam, together with eight additional violin concerti, as Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione ("The Contest Between Harmony and Invention").

The Four Seasons is the best known of Vivaldi's works. Unusually for the time, Vivaldi published the concerti with accompanying poems (possibly written by Vivaldi himself) that elucidated what it was about those seasons that his music was intended to evoke. It provides one of the earliest and most-detailed examples of what was later called program music—music with a narrative element.

Vivaldi took great pains to relate his music to the texts of the poems, translating the poetic lines themselves directly into the music on the page. In the middle section of the Spring concerto, where the goatherd sleeps, his barking dog can be marked in the viola section. Other natural occurrences are similarly evoked. Vivaldi separated each concerto into three movements, fast-slow-fast, and likewise each linked sonnet into three sections.

List of concertos and movements

Title page of Vivaldi's Cimento dell'Armonia e dell'Invenzione which included The Four Seasons

Vivaldi's arrangement is as follows:

"L'inverno" (Winter), First movement, Allegro non molto (3:18)

Problems playing this file? See media help.

Sonnets and allusions

There is some debate as to whether the four concertos were written to accompany four sonnets or vice versa.[1] Though it is not known who wrote these sonnets, there is a theory that Vivaldi wrote them himself, given that each sonnet is broken down into three sections, neatly corresponding to a movement in the concerto. Whoever wrote the sonnets, The Four Seasons may be classified as program music, instrumental music that intends to evoke something extra-musical [2] and an art form which Vivaldi was determined to prove sophisticated enough to be taken seriously.[3]

In addition to these sonnets, Vivaldi provided instructions such as "The barking dog" (in the second movement of "Spring"), "Languor caused by the heat" (in the first movement of "Summer"), and "the drunkards have fallen asleep" (in the second movement of "Autumn"). The Four Seasons is used in the 1981 film The Four Seasons along with other Vivaldi concertos for flute.

Recordings by Wichita State University Chamber Players

The four concertos each consist of several movements, and the following performances in the year 2000 are by the Wichita State University Chamber Players, an ensemble of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra:

Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, "La primavera" (Spring)
Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, "L'estate" (Summer)
Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, "L'autunno" (Autumn)
Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, "L'inverno" (Winter)

Recording history

The first recording of The Four Seasons is a matter of some dispute. There is a compact disc of one made by the violinist Alfredo Campoli which is taken from acetates of a French radio broadcast; these are thought to date from early in 1939.[4] The first proper electrical recording was made in 1942 by Bernardino Molinari, and though his adaptation is somewhat different from what we have come to expect from modern performances, it is clearly recognisable. This first recording by Molinari was made for Cetra, issued in Italy and subsequently in the United States on six double-sided 78s in the 1940s. It was then reissued on long-playing album in 1950, and was once again reissued on compact disc.[5]

Not surprisingly, further recordings followed. The next was in 1948 by the violinist Louis Kaufman, mistakenly credited as the 'first' recording, made during the night in New York using 'dead' studio time and under pressure from a forthcoming musicians strike. The performers were The Concert Hall Chamber Orchestra under Henry Swoboda, Edith Weiss-Mann (harpsichord) and Edouard Nies-Berger (organ).[6] This recording helped the re-popularisation of Vivaldi's music in the mainstream repertoire of Europe and America following on the work done by Molinari and others in Italy. It won the French Grand Prix du Disque in 1950, was elected to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002, and in 2003 was selected for the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress. Kaufman, intrigued to learn that the four concertos were in fact part of a set of twelve, set about finding a full score and eventually recorded the other eight concertos in Zürich in 1950, making his the first recording of Vivaldi's complete Op. 8.[7]

I Musici followed in 1955 with the first of several recordings of The Four Seasons with different soloists. The 1955 set with Felix Ayo was that ensemble's first recording of any music; subsequent I Musici recordings feature Felix Ayo again in 1959, Roberto Michelucci in 1969, Pina Carmirelli in 1982, Federico Agostini in 1990, and Mariana Sîrbu in 1995. The 1969 recording by the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields conducted by Neville Marriner, featuring soloist Alan Loveday, reputedly moved the piece from the realm of esoterica to that of program and popular staple.[8]

I Solisti di Zagreb under the baton of Antonio Janigro with Jan Tomasow as violin soloist and Anton Heiller on the harpsichord followed in 1957 on the Vanguard label, further reissued under the Philips and other labels. Wilfrid Howard Mellers OBE an English music critic, musicologist and composer wrote about this performance "...the soloists phrase their lyricism beautifully." [9] J.T. (John Thornton) wrote about this recording on HIFI Stereo Review (October 1958, page 88):

"Of all the Vanguard stereo releases, this one is tops! It has everything. Just like London's magnificent release of Petronchka. this recording of Vivaldi's "Seasons" is so fine it is almost impossible to single out any element of it and call it "best." Here is matchless ensemble playing, topped by Tomasow's secure playing. Janigro reveals his talent for conducting, which competes with his considerable talent for cello playing. Le quattro slaggioni emerges as a double triumph, that rare joining of all forces, musical and engineering, to produce a topnotch recording, a credit to the industry, a standard to aim for, an issue to be proud of. I hope Vanguard makes a deal of money with it too, for this is no accident. It took planning and good engineering. The Solomon brothers, who run Vanguard, should be congratulated. Now. if someone will tell certain distributors and dealers that The Seasons" does not begin and end with hunting, fishing, baseball, and football, and if the dealers will get as excited as I am, then Vanguard will make profits and make more records with the Zagreb Solisti, to make more collectors happy to spend money on such discs. A fine example of a delightful circle.[10]

Ivan Supek wrote about this recording:

"I will attempt to convey to you how much this performance means to me, and might mean to you, as well. My first encounter with the records took place almost thirty years ago, when “our” Antonio revealed to me the true significance of the piece of another great Antonio, his famous namesake, whose “Le Quattro Staggioni” I could hardly listen any more because of the “grand”, actually too grand, performances usual at that time, let alone enjoy them. What a change it was – a window into a new world; music is fast, precise and true to life, the intonation is correct, the continuo appropriate, and the violin of beautiful sound in fitting correlation with the Zagreb Soloists. The self-assured and fine tone of Jan Tomasow’s solo violin relates perfectly with the Soloists; the entire performance is impregnated with the spirit of Janigro’s perfectionism, leaving the music and its soul fully exposed. It had been for a long time the only performance I could listen to. Only during [the] last decade some new kids, playing authentic instruments, have offered to me similar pleasure and insights into the music of Antonio Vivaldi and, to my great pleasure, Janigro’s performance is no longer the only choice for me. In my opinion, this also shows how Janigro’s performance in co-operation with the Zagreb Soloists was far ahead its time, as corroborated by Igor Stravinski who claimed that it was the most beautiful performance of “Le Quattro Staggioni” he had ever heard, a statement which I only recently learned about. No wonder, since such “bareness” and precision of Janigro’s interpretation must have appealed to him. It was much later that I discovered the excellence of the recording as well. At that time, the Zagreb Soloists were recording for Vanguard, mostly in Vienna at various locations, and this particular recording was made in 1957 at Rotenturmstrassaal. Recording was produced by Seymour Solomon, chief producer of the entire edition, who would personally come from the USA to oversee every recording to be made by the Zagreb Soloists, whereas the Vanguard branch in Vienna “Amadeo” was in charge of the organisation. (My gratitude to one of the founders of the Zagreb Soloists, Mr. Stjepan Aranjoš, for providing me with some important insights). Janigro was a perfectionist, often rather merciless, not only in matters of music but also in terms of the sound, so he participated directly and intensely in [the] recording process, which was quite uncommon at that time. All that great care, by all participants in the project, is amply reflected in the recording itself, resulting in an airy performance of appropriate spaciousness and extension, with only occasional “congestion” of high tones in forte sections." [11]

Paul Shoemaker wrote about this recording:

Nothing I have heard changes my view that the best Seasons ever was performed by Jan Tomasow and I Solisti di Zagreb and beautifully recorded by Vanguard at the very beginning of the stereo era. If you have almost every other version of the Seasons, you’ll want this one, too. If money and space are no obstacle, it might be worth having.[12]

Nigel Kennedy's 1989 recording of The Four Seasons with the English Chamber Orchestra sold over two million copies, becoming one of the best-selling classical works ever.[13] Gil Shaham and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra recorded The Four Seasons as well as a music video for the first movement of "Winter" that was featured regularly on The Weather Channel in the mid-1990s.

The World's Encyclopedia of Recorded Music in 1952 cites only two recordings of The Four Seasons – by Molinari and Kaufman. By 2011 approximately 1,000 different recorded versions have been made since Campoli's in 1939.

Commensurably, it has become an aspect of these recordings for classical musicians to distinguish their version of The Four Seasons from others', with historically informed performances, and embellishments, to the point of varying the instruments and tempi, or playing notes differently from the listener's expectation (whether specified by the composer or not).[14] It is said that Vivaldi's work presents such opportunities for improvisation.[15]

Derivative works

Derivative works of these concerti include arrangements, transcriptions, covers, remixes, samples, and parodies in music—themes in theater and opera, soundtracks in films (or video games), and choreography in ballet (along with contemporary dance, figure skating, rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, etc.)—either in their entirety, single movements, or medleys. Antonio Vivaldi appears to have started this trend of adapting music from The Four Seasons, and since then it has expanded into many aspects of the performing arts (as have other instrumental & vocal works by the composer). This contest between harmony and invention (as it were) now involves various genres around the world:

1726 (or 1734)
1739
1765
1808
1969
1970
1972
1976
1978
1982
1984
1987
1990
1993
1995
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016

References

  1. Everett, Paul (1996). Vivaldi: The Four Seasons and Other Concertos, Op. 8. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0521404990.
  2. Christine Lee Gengaro. "Program notes: Four Seasons". Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012.
  3. Andrew Mellor Sinfini Music (2013-03-14). "The secret behind the Four Seasons". Sinfini Music. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  4. Pearl GEMM CD 9151
  5. Two versions are available, one with more extensive sleeve notes giving the political background and history of the work's rediscovery issued by Ermitage ERC CD 12006-2.
  6. Concert Hall Records, CHS. set AR; reissued on Naxos Historical 8.110297-98.
    1. CHS.CHC 1064 (#Nix.CLP 1061-1/2)
  7. Norman Lebrecht. The Life and Death of Classical Music. New York: Anchor Books, 2007, ISBN 978-1-4000-9658-9, p. 219.
  8. [citation needed]"
  9. http://vintagevacuumaudio.com/vintage-magazines/hifi/1958-10-hifi-stereo-review.pdf
  10. Antonio Janigro - WAM
  11. http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2003/Jun03/vivaldi2aa.htm
  12. Wright, Steve (23 August 1999). "Not quite Vivaldi: Nigel Kennedy remembers Hendrix". CNN.
  13. Performing Vivaldi, Interview with Nemanja Radulovic, featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel)
  14. Performing Vivaldi, Interview with Aisslinn Nosky, featured on YouTube (producer's channel).
  15. Hopkins, Translated by Bill (1970). Antonio Vivaldi; his life and work. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-520-01629-3.
  16. Moe Koffman "The Four Seasons", GRT or Derby record label, Discogs listing.
  17. New Koto Ensemble "Koto Four Seasons", Discogs listing.
  18. Michael Franks, "Vivaldi's song", "Burchfield Nines" album.
  19. WoongSan, "Vivaldi's Song", album "Close Your Eyes" (Pony Canyon label).
  20. Ben Shedd, "Seasons", listed on IMDB; trailer featured on Vimeo (photagrapher's channel).
  21. Flute "Jean-Pierre Rampal Plays Vivaldi's Four Seasons", Sony Classical (53105), Allmusic listing.
  22. Arnie Roth, "The Compleat Four Seasons", listed on Allmusic.
  23. The Baronics "Get Bach!", on Discogs.
  24. The Great Kat, "Bloody Vivaldi", album.
  25. Vanessa-Mae "Storm", album.
  26. Chinese Baroque Players "Four Seasons", Xien Records (XNC2 44032), Allmusic listing
  27. Venice Harp Quartet "Four Seasons for Four Harps", Fine Classics (4423–2), Allmusic listing.
  28. Primavera Tango "Flamenco Fantasy", on Discogs.
  29. Brusch & Mikkelsen "The Four Seasons", Classico CLASSCD333
  30. Bond: Viva!/Wintersun.
  31. Ferhan & Ferzan discography "Vivaldi Reflections", EMI classics. Retrieved on 23 June 2013.
  32. Susan Osborn, "Winter/Vivaldi", album "Still Life" (Pony Canyon label).
  33. The Charades, "Vivaldi's Summer Twist", album "As Hot As Cool Can Be" (Power Records).
  34. Red Priest's "Four Seasons" (Dorian 90317), Allmusic listing.
  35. "The Four Seasons Mosaic" DVD is paired with Tafelmusik's L'estro armonico CD, featured on Vimeo (producer's channel).
  36. Frets on Fire "Dark Moor's winter", featured on YouTube (open source gameplay recording).
  37. Accentus "Transcriptions 2", on Discogs.
  38. Celtic Woman: A New Journey, "Vivaldi's Rain".
  39. PercaDu (Tomer Yariv and Adi Morag), "Vivaldi, winter arr for marimbas", featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  40. LesGrandsBallets "Les quatre saisons", featured on YouTube (producer's channel).
  41. Tim Slade "4", listed on IMDB.
  42. Information about CD "국악으로 듣는 비발디의 사계 (in Korean)", on Aladin Communication Inc.
  43. Jaroslav Sveceny & Michal Dvorak "Vivaldianno MMVIII", featured on Vimeo (recording artist's channel).
  44. Yves Custeau "Vivaldi Rock Spring", featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  45. Daisy Jopling, "Winter (hip hop)", album "Key to the Classics", "Winter (reggae)", featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  46. Innesa Tymochko, "Vivaldi's Storm", featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  47. Wez Bolton, "Winter (cover version)", featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  48. Patrick Chan, "2008 Nationals", featured on YouTube (channel for the skater).
  49. Absynth Against Anguish "The Four Seasons 2.0", creative commons audio.
  50. Riccardo Arrighini, "Le quattro stagioni", album "Vivaldi in Jazz".
  51. Christophe Monniot, "Vivaldi Universel, Saison 5", Cristal Records (CR 149).
  52. BlinDChriS "Vivaldi Dead Springs", creative commons media.
  53. Art Color Ballet "Vivaldi 4 Elements", featured on YouTube (producer's channel).
  54. David Garrett "Vivaldi/Vertigo", album "Rock Symphonies", featured on Vimeo (producer's channel).
  55. Black Smith "Vivaldi Tribute", Against all odds (DVD), featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  56. Angels Ensembles, "Angels Summer", featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  57. Szentpeteri Csilla, "Storm – Crossover", featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  58. Leonel Valbom, "Summer Vivaldi", featured on SoundCloud (recording artist's channel).
  59. Tim Kliphuis "Spring – Gypsy Jazz and Celtic version", "Live at Iford Manor" (DVD), featured on YouTube (recording artist's channel).
  60. Gill, Andy (27 October 2012). "Album: Max Richter, Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Recomposed By Max Richter (Deutsche Grammophon)". London: Independent. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  61. Aura discography "Le Quattro Stagioni", EPIC Records (ESCL 3932). Retrieved on 3 June 2013.
  62. Sinfonity "The Four Seasons", live in Madrid, featured on Vimeo (recording artist's channel).
  63. Bachod Chirmof, "Midi Animation – Vivaldi", featured on Vimeo (recording artist's channel).
  64. Tornado Classic, "Vivaldi Summer", featured on Vimeo (producer's channel).
  65. Richard Galliano, DG Label "Vivaldi" (featured on artist's site).
  66. Vito Paternoster "The Four Seasons in forma di sonata for cello" ("Baryton BRT 006", tracks featured on Magnatune).
  67. The Periodic project & Lennart Wittenhagen "Vier Jahreszeiten", featured on Vimeo (recording artist's channel).
  68. A Vivaldi Compendium "Midseasons", creative commons media, featured on YouTube (producer's channel).
  69. The Piano Guys - "Let it Go (Disney's "Frozen") Vivaldi Winter", featured on YouTube (group's channel).
  70. http://www.nihad/accordeon.com
  71. http://www.astronomusic.com/the_four_seasons.htm
  72. "Le quattro stagioni (Vivaldi, Antonio) - IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library: Free Public Domain Sheet Music". imslp.org. Retrieved 2016-11-22.

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