“Spring” by Antonio Lucio Vivaldi

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was a musician, composer and Roman Catholic priest. He wrote a series of four violin concertos called The Four Seasons. The first concerto is Spring. Each concerto has a corresponding sonnet that describes the scenes depicted in the music. Here is the sonnet for Spring:

Springtime is upon us.
The birds celebrate her return with festive song,
and murmuring streams are
softly caressed by the breezes.
Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar,
casting their dark mantle over heaven,
Then they die away to silence,
and the birds take up their charming songs once more.

On the flower-strewn meadow, with leafy branches
rustling overhead, the goat-herd sleeps,
his faithful dog beside him.

Led by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes,
nymphs and shepherds lightly dance
beneath the brilliant canopy of spring.

Deeper dive
“Classical notes: Antonio Vivaldi The Four Seasons”
“Story behind The Four Seasons by Vivaldi”
Listen to all four concertos