Robin Padgham Piano Teacher

The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi

The Four Seasons (or 'Le quattro stagioni' in Italian) is a set of four violin concerti, with each being descriptive of, well, the four seasons of the year. Certainly an early example of programme music from Vivaldi there. What may be less well known is that he based each concerto on one of four sonnets. It is thought that Vivaldi wrote the sonnets himself, receiving less favourable comments for them than his music. Let's remember though, he was a composer and not a poet.

You might recognise those words from the recent Today page on this website, but I thought I ought to expand on it by providing the full text of the sonnets. I think having this text to hand opens up a new listening experience and because they are what Vivaldi himself based the music on, it's not an 'alternative' interpretation. It's what he had in mind all along. I think it's how they should be listened to.

The four concerti:
Concerto No. 1 in E major, RV 269, "Spring"
Concerto No. 2 in G minor, RV 315, "Summer"
Concerto No. 3 in F major, RV 293, "Autumn"
Concerto No. 4 in F minor, RV 297, "Winter"

The four sonnets:

Spring

I. Allegro
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.

II. Largo
On the flower-strewn meadow, with leafy branches rustling overhead, the goat-herd sleeps, his faithful dog beside him.

III. Allegro
Led by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes, nymphs and shepherds lightly dance beneath the brilliant canopy of spring.

Summer

I. Allegro non molto
Beneath the blazing sun's relentless heat
men and flocks are sweltering,
pines are scorched.
We hear the cuckoo's voice; then sweet songs of the turtle dove and finch are heard.
Soft breezes stir the air, but threatening north wind sweeps them suddenly aside.
The shepherd trembles, fearful of violent storm and what may lie ahead.

II. Adagio e piano - Presto e forte
His limbs are now awakened from their repose by fear of lightning's flash and thunder's roar, as gnats and flies buzz furiously around.

III. Presto
Alas, his worst fears were justified, as the heavens roar and great hailstones beat down upon the proudly standing corn.

Autumn

I. Allegro
The peasant celebrates with song and dance the harvest safely gathered in.
The cup of Bacchus flows freely, and many find their relief in deep slumber.

II. Adagio molto
The singing and the dancing die away
as cooling breezes fan the pleasant air,
inviting all to sleep
without a care.

III. Allegro
The hunters emerge at dawn,
ready for the chase,
with horns and dogs and cries.
Their quarry flees while they give chase.
Terrified and wounded, the prey struggles on,
but, harried, dies.

Winter

I. Allegro non molto
Shivering, frozen mid the frosty snow in biting, stinging winds;
running to and fro to stamp one's icy feet, teeth chattering in the bitter chill.

II. Largo
To rest contentedly beside the hearth, while those outside are drenched by pouring rain.

III. Allegro
We tread the icy path slowly and cautiously, for fear of tripping and falling.
Then turn abruptly, slip, crash on the ground and, rising, hasten on across the ice lest it cracks up.
We feel the chill north winds coarse through the home despite the locked and bolted doors
this is winter, which nonetheless brings its own delights.

Examples of pictures painted in music:
1. Listening to the first movement of "Spring", the Allegro, and you can hear instrumental mimicry of the birds singing and streams murmuring.

2. The last movement of "Autumn", the Allegro: Can you picture horses and hounds and hear the horns sounding during the hunt?

3. The first movement of "Winter", allegro non molto: I will never hear this again without picturing feet stomping on the ground and teeth chattering.

Last Updated: 30th December 2025

The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi

Last Updated: 30th December 2025