Lightning erupts, and hail stones pelt the ripened corn. The shepherd’s sleep is disturbed by distant thunder and the buzz of insects. The blazing sun sears the earth, but the songs of the cuckoo, dove, and goldfinch can be heard.

To the sound of rustic bagpipes, nymphs and shepherds dance.

A goatherd sleeps, his faithful dog beside him. Birds sing and fountains flow, but there is also the sound of thunder and lightning. Here is a summary of The Four Seasons: Spring. In general, the full orchestra reflects general text, while the solo violin illustrates pictorial detail. In the score, the composer indicates exactly which line or phrase of the poem is being illustrated. These four violin concertos are based on a set of Italian sonnets, possibly written by Vivaldi himself. Instrumental music as literally programmatic as The Four Seasons was rare in the 18th century. Judging by a pirated French edition of The Four Seasons and early reports of French performances, these concertos must have had the same immediate appeal for 18th-century listeners as they do today. Il Cimento’s dedication to von Morzin implies that his orchestra had already performed The Four Seasons. Vivaldi, a priest, was also a famous violinist of the time and boasted the title maestro di concerto of the Pio Ospidale della Pietà, a distinguished school of music, and maestro in Italia of the Austrian Count von Morzin (cousin to Haydn’s earliest patron). The first four of these were Le Quattro Stagioni, or The Four Seasons. The Story: In 1725, Antonio Vivaldi published a collection of 12 concertos under the collective title, Il Cimento dell’ Armonia e dell’ Inventione (“The Contest between Harmony and Invention”). In addition to a solo violin, this piece is scored for strings.

Title: The Four Seasons, op.8 Composer: Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Last time performed by the Rhode Island Philharmonic: Last performed Novemwith Larry Rachleff conducting and soloist Jennifer Koh.

Four seasons piano