Like many baroque masterpieces, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons fell out of fashion soon after the composer’s death only to see a surge of popularity in the 19th century. And from there, “Spring” specifically has been arranged for all sorts of instruments – flute, Hurdy Gurdy, the Japanese Koto, surf guitar, accordion, traditional Chinese instruments, computer – Tafelmusik even featured Vivaldi’s concertos for Chinese pipa, Indian sarangi and Inuit throat-singing. Michael Corette combined Vivaldi’s “Spring” with a musical setting of Psalm 116 music in his Laudate Dominum de Coelis. Johann Sebastian Bach got his hands on Vivaldi’s Spring the year after it premiered, and borrowed it for his Cantata “Who knows how near to me my end? ” In the mid 18th century. Oh no – composers, arrangers and musicians through the ages have positively worked their magic with Vivaldi’s Spring. S ince the early 18th century premiere of this 10-minute concerto, the world hasn’t just.l eft it alone. ” The first of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons concertos not only invites us to imagine birds singing in a crisp, clear morning, but depicts a rolling spring thunderstorm and a festive dance in the country. The first lines of “Spring’s” sonnet perfectly encapsulate what’s ahead, musically speaking: “Springtime is upon us. The birds celebrate her return with festive song, and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes. Each concerto includes a n accompanying sonnet of unknown origin ( a classic case of “which came first – the sonnets of the concertos?”). Vivaldi penned his famous quartet of concertos, The Four Seasons or Le qua ttro s tagioni, between the late 1710’s and early 1720s.

Vivaldi’s “Spring” – one of the most recognizable, best loved works in the world and one of the best ways to celebrate the season.

Spring by vivaldi