"The Four Seasons" (Antonio Vivaldi)
Antonio Vivaldi aimed to create "music that allows the listener to travel through their imagination."
Vivaldi served for a long time as the music educator for the girls at the Ospedale della Pietà (which was both an orphanage and a music school) in Venice. There were many girls in this orphanage who did not know the outside world, and music was the only window connecting their world to the outside.
Vivaldi wrote new pieces one after another for them. He was conscious that all of these pieces should not just be "playable music," but "music that makes one feel the world."
Among them, the famous "Four Seasons" was published in 1725 as the first four concertos of the violin concerto collection "The Contest Between Harmony and Invention (Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione)."
In this work, Vivaldi attempted to depict the scenes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, as well as people's lives and emotions, through sound.
As part of that attempt, he wrote sonnets (poems) for each piece and wrote detailed notes in each measure of the score, such as "here is a bird singing," "here is thunder," and "here a dog is barking." This was also an unprecedentedly "programmatic" work for its time.
Below, I have included the Japanese translation of those poems. I believe that if you listen to "The Four Seasons" after reading them, you will be able to experience a special kind of emotion.
"Spring (La Primavera)"
Spring has arrived!
The birds welcome it with joyful songs,
and the streams whisper in the gentle breeze.
Soon the sky is covered in black clouds,
lightning and thunder resound,
but when the storm passes,
the birds begin to sing again.
"Summer (L’Estate)"
Under the scorching summer sun,
people, sheep, and pine trees all languish.
The cuckoo calls,
and the turtledove and goldfinch begin to sing.
Just when a gentle breeze blows,
a sudden north wind calls up a storm,
and the shepherd weeps, fearing the approaching storm and his own fate.
"Autumn (L’Autunno)"
The villagers celebrate the joy of a bountiful harvest
with songs and dances.
Intoxicated by Bacchus's wine,
some eventually fall asleep.
In the crisp air,
everyone enjoys singing and dancing,
and autumn is a season to celebrate the joys of life.
"Winter (L’Inverno)"
Shivering in the freezing cold,
exposed to the biting wind,
walking while stamping one's feet,
a winter where teeth chatter.
Outside, rain and snow—
people spend time quietly by the fireplace.
Walking cautiously on the ice,
careful not to fall.
*You can jump to each chapter of "Spring," "Summer," "Autumn," and "Winter" from the description box.
*Personally, "Winter" is my favorite. It is a work that I feel has a particular affinity with EDM, so I hope you will listen to two patterns, including that arrangement.
*I also like "Summer." This is the world-famous arrangement by 2CELLOS.
Vivaldi actually left behind the words, "I paint with sound so that the listener can visualize the scene before them."
The journey he takes us on through music is one where the path, the scenery, and the emotions can all be felt vividly.
Antonio Vivaldi Chronology (1678–1741)
Vivaldi was known for his bright red hair from a young age, earning him the nickname "The Red Priest." He was also famous for the speed of his composition, and records from German travelers and letters mention that "in Venice, there is a man who composes music daily, just as one eats."
1678: Born in Venice. His father was a violinist. He was deeply involved with music from childhood.
1703: Ordained as a priest at age 25 ("The Red Priest"). In the same year, he became a violin teacher at the Ospedale della Pietà. From then on, he composed many concertos and religious works for the girls.
1711: Published "L'Estro Armonico." A collection of 12 violin concertos, it became a huge hit across Europe.
1716: Composed the choral work "Gloria RV 589." It was acclaimed when performed by the girls of the Ospedale della Pietà.
1723–1725: Composed and published the concerto collection "The Contest Between Harmony and Invention (Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione)." This includes the famous "Four Seasons."
1725: Published "The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni)." A novel attempt to depict the scenes of the four seasons through music and his own poems.
1730s: Traveled to various parts of Europe, including Dresden and Vienna, and was active in performing his own operas and concertos. He also gained fame as an opera composer, with works such as "L'Olimpiade" and "Griselda."
1739: Moved to Vienna due to financial hardship and declining popularity. Continued composing until his final years.
1741: Died in Vienna. After his death, his works were forgotten for a time, but re-evaluation progressed in the 20th century.
Vivaldi established the concerto genre and richly developed the dialogue between soloist and ensemble. He also left a legacy for expanding the possibilities for female musicians through his educational and performance activities at the Ospedale della Pietà. He was a prolific composer who left behind a diverse range of works, including over 500 concertos, more than 50 operas, as well as religious music and chamber music throughout his life.