The Four Seasons is a collection of four violin concertos composed by Antonio Vivaldi in 1723 to represent each season of the year. Each concerto was written to accompany a sonnet describing the season, though the author of the sonnets is unknown. Vivaldi likely wrote the sonnets himself as the text closely matches the music. The first movement of Winter is called "Allegro non molto" and depicts trembling in the snow and wind according to the accompanying sonnet.

1. Antonio
Vivaldi
The Four Seasons - Winter

2. EXPLORE

3. EXPLORE
The Four Seasons was written by the Baroque composer
Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741) in 1723

4. EXPLORE
The Four Seasons was written by the Baroque composer
Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741) in 1723
It is a collection of four violin concertos each
representing a different season of the year

5. EXPLORE
The Four Seasons was written by the Baroque composer
Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741) in 1723
It is a collection of four violin concertos each
representing a different season of the year
The music was written to go along with four sonnets

6. EXPLORE
The Four Seasons was written by the Baroque composer
Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741) in 1723
It is a collection of four violin concertos each
representing a different season of the year
The music was written to go along with four sonnets
Nobody really knows who wrote these sonnets but many
historians think it must have been Vivaldi himself as the
text is so specific to the music that he actually writes it
in the score as it is happening in the music

7. EXPLORE
The Four Seasons was written by the Baroque composer
Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741) in 1723
It is a collection of four violin concertos each
representing a different season of the year
The music was written to go along with four sonnets
Nobody really knows who wrote these sonnets but many
historians think it must have been Vivaldi himself as the
text is so specific to the music that he actually writes it
in the score as it is happening in the music
This is an excellent example of programme music

8. EXPLORE
The first movement of winter (L’inverno) is called
Allegro non molto and here is the sonnet for this part of
the music:

9. EXPLORE
The first movement of winter (L’inverno) is called
Allegro non molto and here is the sonnet for this part of
the music:
Aggiacciato tremar trà nevi algenti
To tremble from cold in the icy snow,
Al Severo Spirar d' orrido Vento,
In the harsh breath of a horrid wind;
Correr battendo i piedi ogni momento;
To run, stamping one's feet every moment,
E pel Soverchio gel batter i denti;
Our teeth chattering in the extreme cold

10. EXPLORE
The first movement of winter (L’inverno) is called
Allegro non molto and here is the sonnet for this part of
the music:
Aggiacciato tremar trà nevi algenti
To tremble from cold in the icy snow,
Al Severo Spirar d' orrido Vento,
In the harsh breath of a horrid wind;
Correr battendo i piedi ogni momento;
To run, stamping one's feet every moment,
E pel Soverchio gel batter i denti;
Our teeth chattering in the extreme cold
Now let’s listen and see each line as it appears in the
score:

11. To tremble from cold in the icy snow

12. In the harsh breath of a horrid wind

13. To run, stamping one's feet every moment

14. Our teeth chattering in the extreme cold

15. EXPERIENCE
Vivaldi uses many special musical effects that are
especially well suited to string instruments in his music.
Watch William Chandler, Associate Leader of the RSNO
talking about these effects as well as some extras that
performers use today.

16. RESPOND

17. RESPOND
On the following two pages are grids containing a list of
musical concepts

18. RESPOND
On the following two pages are grids containing a list of
musical concepts
We will listen to two different works also composed by
Antonio Vivaldi and you have to work out which
concepts belong to excerpt one or two and which
concepts are common to them both (or neither)

19. RESPOND
On the following two pages are grids containing a list of
musical concepts
We will listen to two different works also composed by
Antonio Vivaldi and you have to work out which
concepts belong to excerpt one or two and which
concepts are common to them both (or neither)
Have a look at the list of concepts before we listen to
the musical excerpts:

20. Concepts Excerpt 1 only Excerpt 2 Only Common to both
MELODIC &
HARMONIC
Microtone
Major Tonality
Mordent
Minor Tonality
RHYTHMIC
Irregular Metres
Anacrusis
Simple Time
Hemiola
STRUCTURAL
Ostinato
Alberti Bass
Basso Continuo
Polyphony

21. Concepts Excerpt 1 only Excerpt 2 Only Common to both
TIMBRE
Pizzicato
Echo
Arco
Sul Ponticello
STYLES/FORMS
Concerto
Neo-Classical
Concerto Grosso
Baroque

22. Concepts Excerpt 1 only Excerpt 2 Only Common to both
TIMBRE
Pizzicato
Echo
Arco
Sul Ponticello
STYLES/FORMS
Concerto
Neo-Classical
Concerto Grosso
Baroque
There is a maximum of two correct answers in each
section for each excerpt

23. Concepts Excerpt 1 only Excerpt 2 Only Common to both
TIMBRE
Pizzicato
Echo
Arco
Sul Ponticello
STYLES/FORMS
Concerto
Neo-Classical
Concerto Grosso
Baroque
There is a maximum of two correct answers in each
section for each excerpt
Here are the excerpts:
Excerpt 1: Excerpt 2: