- Four Seasons - Spring: 1st Movement Vivaldi Explained 2.0Antonio Vivaldi composed the Four Seasons to represent, through several elements of music, various.
- He’s rearranged the “Spring” and “Autumn” sections of Vivaldi’s famous Four Seasons, and dug up the composers Double Mandolin Concerto. The ensemble will perform them at a virtual concert of the Hudson Library & Historical Society, which will also feature two sonatinas by Beethoven, and an aria from Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute.
- For Students 4th - 6th By utilizing this classical music instructional activity, upper elementary children listen to 'Spring' from The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi. They will read a biography of the composer and answer four multiple choice.
- Through Vivaldi they learn how music can inspire pictures and symbols. Antonio Vivaldi wrote The Four Seasons in the early Classical period and features four movements, Spring, Summer, Autumn.
The Four Seasons (Italian: Le quattro stagioni) is a set of four violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi. Composed in 1725, The Four Seasons is Vivaldi's best-known work, and is among the most popular pieces in the classical music repertoire. The texture of each concerto is varied, each resembling its respective season.
Did you know that the music of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons is based on four poems written by Antonio Vivaldi? In the music, each 'Season' consists of a three-movement concerto. Two quick-tempo outer movements frame a central slow-tempo movement. The sonnets included in the score provide a specific description of each movement. A prose translation of the original Italian is provided below.La Primavera (Spring)
Opus 8, No. 1, in E Major
I. Allegro--
Festive Spring has arrived,
The birds salute it with their happy song.
And the brooks, caressed by little Zephyrs,
Flow with a sweet murmur.
The sky is covered with a black mantle,
And thunder, and lightning, announce a storm.When they are silent, the birds
Return to sing their lovely song.
II. Largo e pianissimo sempre--
And in the meadow, rich with flowers,
To the sweet murmur of leaves and plants,
The goatherd sleeps, with his faithful dog at his side.
III. Danza pastorale. Allegro--
To the festive sound of pastoral bagpipes,
Dance nymphs and shepherds,
At Spring's brilliant appearance.
L'Estate (Summer)
Opus 8, No. 2, in G minor
I. Allegro non molto--
Under the heat of the burning summer sun,
Languish man and flock; the pine is parched.
The cuckoo finds its voice, and suddenly,
The turtledove and goldfinch sing.
A gentle breeze blows,
But suddenly, the north wind appears.
The shepherd weeps because, overhead,
Lies the fierce storm, and his destiny.
II. Adagio; Presto--
His tired limbs are deprived of rest
By his fear of lightning and fierce thunder,
And by furious swarms of flies and hornets.
III. Presto--
Alas, how just are his fears,
Thunder and lightening fill the Heavens, and the hail
Slices the tops of the corn and other grain.
L'Autunno (Autumn)
Opus 8, No. 3, in F Major
I. Allegro
Vivaldi Four Seasons For Kids
--The peasants celebrate with dance and song,
The joy of a rich harvest.
And, full of Bacchus's liquor,
They finish their celebration with sleep.
II. Adagio molto--
Each peasant ceases his dance and song.
The mild air gives pleasure,
And the season invites many
To enjoy a sweet slumber.
III. Allegro--
The hunters, at the break of dawn, go to the hunt.
With horns, guns, and dogs they are off,
The beast flees, and they follow its trail.
Already fearful and exhausted by the great noise,
Of guns and dogs, and wounded,
The exhausted beast tries to flee, but dies.
L'Inverno (Winter)
Opus 8, No. 4, in F minor
I. Allegro non molto--
Vivaldi Four Seasons Fall
Frozen and trembling in the icy snow,
In the severe blast of the horrible wind,
As we run, we constantly stamp our feet,
And our teeth chatter in the cold.
II. Largo--
To spend happy and quiet days near the fire,
While, outside, the rain soaks hundreds.
III. Allegro--
We walk on the ice with slow steps,
And tread carefully, for fear of falling.
Symphony, If we go quickly, we slip and fall to the ground.
Again we run on the ice,
Until it cracks and opens.
We hear, from closed doors,
Sirocco, Boreas, and all the winds in battle.
This is winter, but it brings joy.
Antonio Vivaldi is one of the most famous composers of all time. As a Baroque composer, one of his most famous musical works is The Four Seasons. Each of the set of 4 violin concerti is based on a particular season.
While listening to each concerto, it helps you imagine you are in that season. This Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons Autumn activity is great for helping kids experience music and not just listen to it. For more activities for Fall or Thanksgiving, check out this blog post.
Lesson Plan
- Talk about Antonio Vivaldi and what music he wrote as a composer.
- Talk about Autumn and what children think of or what activities they get to experience during this season.
- While listening to Autumn, hand children a piece of paper and some crayons or markers.
- As children listen to the song, have them color or draw what the music makes them feel or what it makes them think of.
- After the pictures are colored, hand out two paper leaves to each child.
- Using creative movement, children will wave their leaves high, low, fast, and slow.
Vivaldi Four Seasons For Kids
What are your favorite ways to experience the fall season? Do you have a favorite song, poem, or book about Autumn?