Analysis of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons

For my first listening assignment I chose Vivaldi The Four Seasons, featuring Leonard Bernstein. First I would like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed these concertos. I am pleased that I decided to purchase the CD as opposed to borrowing it.

Most of the compositions contain small sections of conjunct notes and larger sections of disjunct notes. There is also a lot of range in dynamics. The change in dynamics is usually sudden as opposed to gradual.

Overall the music is very pretty. I hear a lot of strings throughout the CD, especially violins. I can definitely tell these pieces are of the Baroque era as there is much ornamentation throughout the compositions. When I think of the Baroque era La Primavera is the piece that usually comes to mind.

That being said, La Primavera is my favorite composition of this recording. I hear a lot of strings in La Primavera. The composition is mostly disjunct. The first movement is loud, lively, fast paced and cheery. I would say the dynamics range from mezzo piano at the very softest points to forte at the very loudest parts. The tempo is fast. The tempo slows some around 37 seconds into the piece and then picks up again after about 25 seconds. I would say that this piece is polyphonic. The range is wide. The contour is mostly up. Overall this piece is difficult to listen to without wanting to move along with the music. This is a happy piece and evokes images of sunshine and warmth.

The second movement is slower and a little on the side of melancholy. I would say the dynamics range from piano at the softest point and mezzo forte at the loudest part. The tempo is slow and consistent. This piece is polyphonic. There is some range, but the range is not very wide. This composition evokes feelings of sadness, and perhaps of loneliness.

The third movement is a very lively piece. There is much contour. The piece is mostly disjunct but there are also some conjunct parts to the composition. This movement is also polyphonic. The tempo starts off at a fast pace, slows towards the middle, and then quickens again. The shape of the piece is mostly up with a few dips. The overall feeling of the composition is one of rejoicing. It's almost like falling in love.

I also really enjoyed Concerto for Oboe, Strings and Basso Continuo in C Minor. I think the oboe has a beautiful voice. The first movement of this concerto is my favorite. The movement is melancholy and beautiful. The tempo is slow and steady. The dynamics range from piano to mezzo piano. The changes in dynamics are mostly gradual. The piece is mostly conjunct with few parts that are disjunct. I would say the piece is polyphonic. The shape stays the about the same throughout the piece. This movement sounds almost like a woman forlornly singing of a lost love.

I know that I will listen to this Vivaldi CD over and over. I enjoyed leaning back with my eyes closed and listening. I particularly liked the pieces with the oboe. I hope to obtain more compositions with the oboe for my collection.