Vivaldi - Sounds of Serenity

I have watched the Sounds of Serenity VHS video. It has a lot of nature and farm scenes, no characters, no dialog, no plot. Though the scenes of flowers, farms, forests, birds and other wildlife are lovely, the video would be quite dull and insipid without Antonio Vivaldi's music.

Further, after only a couple of plays, the VHS video tape broke.

These are just a couple of reasons why I prefer to listen to the Sounds of Serenity-Antonio Vivaldi CD that came with my video purchase. The CD music is the same music on the video.

The CD allows me to use my imagination. I find that option preferable to watching a canned video presentation of nature scenes. Of course my point here is moot given the fact the video is broken. Anyway, let's move on.

I want to share with you my feelings and impressions of Vivaldi's music. Below I describe each track individually and then my overall impression. Enjoy.

Guitar Concerto in D Major (Largo):

Classical guitar notes dripping like light rain on a windowsill. Baroque chamber strings move like cloud chords across the arrangement sky. A light sprinkle of guitar notes gently wash away my stress. Serenity is mine again.

Guitar Concerto in D Minor (Largo):

A sad viola ? Why so sad? Did your violin abandon you? A guitar keeps you company, and plays with you. As I listen to your emphatic cry, my heartstrings play your sad song as well.

Guitar Concerto in C Major (Largo):

Guitar notes dripping like a faucet this time. Chamber strings punch the downbeat in 4/4 time.
My ears wait for the plumber until the final chord-he never arrives.

Guitar Concerto in G Major (Andante):

Strings, like a clock, ticking off seconds of despair, until the guitar's arpeggios bring them cheer. Yet the strings keep ticking...ticking... The guitar scales massage the stressful strings until the final cadence. Then... serenity returns.

Violin Concerto in D Minor (Adagio):

Strings set the scene of a cold cruel world. A harpsichord enters stage left. A violin protagonist protests with righteous indignation. He is then joined by his loyal friends whose violin sounds try to calm the protagonist down. The protagonist makes one more impassioned plea, then is finally subdued.

Violin Concerto No.9 (Larghetto):

The strings remind me of sunlight piercing through dispersing storm clouds. A happy little violin enters from stage right. She seems to be skipping merrily along picking flowers in a field. She then sees her Bo-who is home from the war. Her heart then sings with pure joy! Reunited at last! It is truly a happy day!

"La Primavera" (Spring), Concerto in E (Largo):

Conspiratorial strings pursue a fugitive solo violin. Will the strings apprehend our fugitive? Will our fugitive escape? You won't know until the final chord.

"L'Autumno" (Fall), Concerto in F Major (Adagio Non Molto):

Imagine a harpsichord climbing an endless stairway inside a cathedral of strings.

Recorder Concerto in A Minor No. 440 (Larghetto):

A harpsichord and strings are taking a 4/4 stroll in the woods. Suddenly they hear the enchanting bird song of a recorder. They marvel at the recorder's prowess. When the bird is through singing, the harpsichord and strings bid the recorder adieu and continue their journey.

Recorder Concerto in C Major (Largo):

Strings and harpsichord sound like a married couple having a bitter quarrel. The childlike recorder intervenes and pleads with Mom and Dad to stop fighting. "Please don't fight. Please don't break apart. I need and love both of you."

Recorder Concerto in F Minor (Largo E Contabile):

Strings, harpsichord and recorder join hands and dance an Elizabethan dance. La...

Final Chords

This CD truly does live up to its name Sounds of Serenity. After listening, I do in fact feel serene. The music is like a warm bath soothing the aching muscles of a long hard day. I feel cleansed, revived and refreshed. My batteries are almost fully recharged. I say almost because I just need to do one final stretch...ahhh...that will do it.

Come on in. The water is fine...

The Tracks

Guitar Concerto in D Major (Largo) 5:04
Guitar Concerto in D Minor (Largo) 4:40
Guitar Concerto in C Major (Largo) 4:34
Guitar Concerto in G Major (Andante) 5:02
Violin Concerto in D Minor (Adagio) 3:37
Violin Concerto No.9 (Larghetto) 4:31
La Primavera" (Spring), Concerto in E (Largo) 2:51
L'Autumno" (Fall), Concerto in F Major (Adagio Non Molto) 2:32
Recorder Concerto in A Minor No. 440 (Larghetto) 3:07
Recorder Concerto in C Major (Largo) 2:36
Recorder Concerto in F Minor (Largo E Contabile) 3:25