Vivaldi’s Four Seasons are examples of solo concerti and of program music. This writing will address programmatic elements in one of its movements. The sonnet from the first movement (allegro) of “Spring” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is as follows:

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons are examples of solo concerti and of program music. This writing will address programmatic elements in one of its movements.

The sonnet from the first movement (allegro) of “Spring” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is as follows:

Springtime is upon us.

The birds celebrate her return with festive song,

and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes.

Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven,

Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more.

Listen to the movement in this Youtube video

and answer the following questions:

1) How do the elements of this movement, Dynamics, Pitch, Rhythm? Tempo Texture, Timbre, and use of instruments express the meaning of the sonnet.

2) Do you think that in this movement Vivaldi successfully depicts the words of the sonnet? Why or why not?

3) Do you like this movement? Why or why not?