Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678-1741) The Four Seasons, L'inverno, "Winter"

I. II. III.

Allegro non molto Largo Allegro

Winter, the last of the four seasons, is also the name of the last violin concerto of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. The Italian composer concludes The Four Seasons with a masterfully composed concerto written as a musical impression of winter. Much like the other concerti from the same work, Winter is segmented into three distinct sections (fast–slow–fast) and was published together with an accompanying poem. The poems are neatly divided into the three sections, each evoking different scenes from the respective season.

Icy, unsettling, almost like a cold droplet running down the spine, the first movement Allegro non molto opens with a sequence of trills that builds in intensity, like shivering in the icy cold winds, emulated by the runs in the solo violin. The second movement Largo brings relief to the tense atmosphere carried from the first movement; the slower and melodious tune from the solo violin combined with long droning tones from the lower strings, are akin to a restful day by a cozy fire. Plucking strings, combined with the delicate octave jumps from the solo cello gives the impression of rainfall. The final movement Allegro paints the arduous journey and caution needed to traverse during winter. The solo violin begins with a very dark and mysterious melody line, before the rest of the ensemble joins in, almost as if caught by a monstrous storm with tumultuous winds. The concerto is then brought to a thrilling end with a flurry of repeated notes, illustrating a frenzied rush back into the comfort of home.