A CLOSER LOOK AT VIVALDI ‘ S THE FOUR SEASONS A TWO-PART PRESENTATION BY ELIZABETH REIFKE
BY CAROL H .
Never were the sensations of the seasons so vividly expressed as in the baroque music of Antonio Vivaldi ’ s The Four Seasons . But , truthfully , as familiar as the music is , with its bright and cheerful sounds but threatening undertones , the beautiful pictures that the music paints were never so clear to me until after listening to Elizabeth R .’ s two presentations in May .
In her cleverly structured and charming didactic presentation , Elizabeth shared her translations of the four sonnets that Vivaldi wrote as the descriptive basis for the seasons . Each of the four sonnets is expressed in a concerto of three movements , which in turn are organized into a tempo pattern of fast-slow-fast . Each evokes a wonderful picture characteristic of the particular season .
My favorite is “ Summer :” the first movement so aptly reflects the intense , lazy heat , slowly replaced by a cool refreshing breeze accompanied by singing birds , and ending with the undertones of an upcoming storm ( and a worried shepherd ). Every scene can be heard .
In the heat of the blazing summer sun , Man and beast languish .
The pine tree is scorched . The cuckoo raises its voice And soon the turtledove and goldfinch Join in the song . A gentle breeze blows … But then the sweet zephyr ’ s airs are Rudely turned By the brusquely contending North Wind . Now the shepherd weeps as the dreaded Storm gathers above him , His fate in its hands .
In the last movement , the storm arrives in full force as the orchestra captures the thunder , wind , and hail ( and the shepherd ’ s worries are fulfilled ).
Clearly , listening to The Four Seasons will never be the same . Thank you , Elizabeth , for these two enlightening presentations !
Screenshots by Carol H . www . awchamburg . org 11