The Four Seasons

The Four Seasons (Italian: Le quattro stagioni)

Composer: Antonio Vivaldi

Date published: 1725

The Four Seasons is a set of four violin concertos composed by Antonio Vivaldi. It is the best known of Vivaldi’s works, and is among the most popular – if not overplayed – pieces in the classical music repertoire. Each concerto is named after a season, and is written in three movements, with a slow movement between two faster ones. The texture of each concerto is varied, each resembling its respective season. For example, “Winter” is peppered with silvery pizzicato notes from the high strings, calling to mind icy rain, whereas “Summer” evokes a thunderstorm in its final movement, which is why the movement is often called “Storm.”

Fun Fact: At the time of writing The Four Seasons, the modern solo form of the concerto – typically a solo instrument and accompanying orchestra – had not yet been defined. Vivaldi’s original arrangement for solo violin with string quartet and basso continuo helped establish the concerto form for centuries to follow.

Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, “La primavera” (Spring)

I. Allegro

II. Largo e pianissimo sempre

III. Allegro pastorale

Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, “L’estate” (Summer)

I. Allegro non molto

II. Adagio e piano – Presto e forte

III. Presto

Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, “L’autunno” (Autumn)

I. Allegro

II. Adagio molto

III. Allegro

Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, “L’inverno” (Winter)

I. Allegro non molto

II. Largo

III. Allegro