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Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

The Four Seasons (1723)

Is a violin Concerto and an example of baroque instrumental music.

Let’s keep the following questions in mind while we listen to the excerpt below.

• What instrument has the basso continuo?
• Can you hear themes of spring?
• Can you hear the changes between major and minor?
• Does the ritornello come every time the same?
• How would you describe the performance?

Let’s watch Perlman’s version of the first movement of:

Concerto for Violin and strings in E major Spring. 1. Allegro

Note that the movements of the Concerto are given titles in italian that correspond to tempo markings.