The Four SeasonsThe Four Seasons

Antonio VivaldiAntonio Vivaldi

SpringSpring

Spring has ComeSpring has Come

and is greetedand is greetedJoyfully by the birds with merry songJoyfully by the birds with merry song

The little brooks flow to the whisperingThe little brooks flow to the whisperingof the zephyr winds with gentle murmuringof the zephyr winds with gentle murmuring

Meanwhile:Meanwhile:The heavens decked with robes of black,The heavens decked with robes of black,

Thunder and lightning appear as augeriesThunder and lightning appear as augeries

Then, when all is still again,Then, when all is still again,The little birds return to their The little birds return to their

enchanting song.enchanting song.

The Shepherd sleeps, The Shepherd sleeps, (solo violin)(solo violin)on the blossoming, on the blossoming,

Gentle Meadow, beneath the rustlingGentle Meadow, beneath the rustlingOf the twigs and leaves Of the twigs and leaves (violins)(violins), ,

the faithful dog the faithful dog (violas)(violas) at his side. at his side.

To the festive sound of rustic bagpipesTo the festive sound of rustic bagpipesNymphs and shepherds dance beneath Nymphs and shepherds dance beneath

heaven’s canopy,heaven’s canopy,At the brilliant appearance of spring.At the brilliant appearance of spring.

SummerSummer

In the merciless season of the burning sunIn the merciless season of the burning sunBoth man and animal languish,Both man and animal languish,

while the pine tree burns.while the pine tree burns.

The cuckoo offers his voice,The cuckoo offers his voice,

and in quick accordand in quick accord

Soon sing the dove and goldfinch as well.Soon sing the dove and goldfinch as well.

A gentle breeze blows,A gentle breeze blows,

But suddenly is challengedBut suddenly is challengedBy the north windBy the north wind

The shepherd boy weeps, fearful ofThe shepherd boy weeps, fearful ofThe threatening storm and of his fate.The threatening storm and of his fate.

His tired limbs deprived of restHis tired limbs deprived of rest

He fears the flashes of lightning He fears the flashes of lightning and firey thunderand firey thunder

As well as the furious swars of As well as the furious swars of gnats and wasps gnats and wasps (violins)(violins)

Ah, all too true are his fears,Ah, all too true are his fears,

The sky thunders and flashes, The sky thunders and flashes, and hailstonesand hailstones

Break the stalks of the ears of corn.Break the stalks of the ears of corn.

AutumnAutumn

The peasants express with dance and songThe peasants express with dance and songTheir joy for the happy harvestTheir joy for the happy harvest

They are from Bacchus so inebriatedThey are from Bacchus so inebriated

That their merriment is followed by sleep.That their merriment is followed by sleep.

Thus in turn each ceases his Thus in turn each ceases his singing and dancingsinging and dancing

The air is mild and pleasant,The air is mild and pleasant,And the season induces manyAnd the season induces many

To enjoy sweet slumber.To enjoy sweet slumber.

At daybreak the hunters leave for the chase,At daybreak the hunters leave for the chase,With horns, guns, and dogs,With horns, guns, and dogs,

The wild beast takes flight,The wild beast takes flight,and they follow its trail.and they follow its trail.

It is already terrified and exhausted It is already terrified and exhausted by the great noiseby the great noise

Of the guns and the dogs,Of the guns and the dogs,

and wounded it triesand wounded it triesTo flee from danger,To flee from danger,

but exhausted, dies.but exhausted, dies.

WinterWinter

Freezing to death, Freezing to death, shivering in the glittering snow.shivering in the glittering snow.

In the howling wind of the fierce storm,In the howling wind of the fierce storm,

We hurry on, stamping our feetWe hurry on, stamping our feet

Our teeth chattering in the extreme cold.Our teeth chattering in the extreme cold.

By the fireside, we spend a peaceful dayBy the fireside, we spend a peaceful dayWhile outside, rain While outside, rain (violins)(violins) pours on everyone in sight.pours on everyone in sight.

Walking on the ice,Walking on the ice,

but with slow stepsbut with slow stepsFearing to fall, we walk with caution:Fearing to fall, we walk with caution:

Boldly stepping out,Boldly stepping out,

Slipping and falling to the groundSlipping and falling to the ground

On the ice we get up again,On the ice we get up again,running with vigorous steps,running with vigorous steps,

Until finally the ice breaks, and we fall. Until finally the ice breaks, and we fall.

One hears emerging from One hears emerging from behind closed doorsbehind closed doors

The Sirocco, the Borea, The Sirocco, the Borea, and all the other winds and all the other winds

fighting each otherfighting each other

This is winter, but even so, This is winter, but even so, what joy it brings!what joy it brings!