Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Violin Concerto No. 4 in F minor (1718)

"Winter" from The Four Seasons

Violin | Joshua Millet
 

I.   Allegro non molto

"To tremble from cold in the icy snow,
In the harsh breath of a horrid wind;
To run, stamping one's feet every moment,
Our teeth chattering in the extreme cold"
 

II.  Largo

"Before the fire to pass peaceful,
Contented days while the rain outside pours down."
 

III. Allegro

"We tread the icy path slowly and cautiously,
for fear of tripping and falling.
Then turn abruptly, slip, crash on the ground and,
rising, hasten on across the ice lest it cracks up.
We feel the chill north winds

course through the home
despite the locked and bolted doors...
this is winter, which nonetheless
brings its own delights."