Sheet Music: Summer

TitleSummer
from The Four Seasons
Alternate titlesL'estate from Le quattro stagioni, Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione
Opus numberOp. 8, No. 2, RV 315
ComposerAntonio Vivaldi (1678–1741)
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyG minor
RangeC4–Bb6
Time signature3/8
Tempo144 BPM
Performance time9:20
Difficulty leveladvanced
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (191 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (7.8 MB)
Date added2011-01-12
Last updated2011-01-12
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 7.6 (very popular)
Categories
Baroque, Concertos

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Wednesday 12 January 2011

Tune of the Day: Summer

from “The Four Seasons” by Antonio Vivaldi

Just like the other three concertos that compose The Four Seasons, “Summer” (“L'estate” in Italian) is made up of three movements, following the usual fast-slow-fast scheme, and is accompanied by a sonnet:

Beneath the blazing sun's relentless heat
men and flocks are sweltering, pines are scorched;
we hear the cuckoo's voice, then sweet songs
of the turtle dove and finch are heard.
Soft breezes stir the air, but threatening
north wind sweeps them suddenly aside.
The shepherd trembles,
fearful of violent storm and what may lie ahead.

His limbs are now awakened from their repose
by fear of lightning's flash and thunder's roar,
as gnats and flies buzz furiously around.

Alas, his worst fears were justified,
as the heavens roar and great hailstones
beat down upon the proudly standing wheat.

As you can see, the final movement evokes a thunderstorm, which is why it is often dubbed “Storm”.

Other Movements from the same Work

1.Spring Flute solo
2.Summer Flute solo
3.Autumn Flute trio
3.Autumn Flute solo
4.Winter: Allegro Flute solo
4.Winter: Allegro non molto Flute solo
4.Winter: Largo Flute & Piano