"Summer" From The Four Seasons By Antonio Vivaldi Featuring Joshua Bell

Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was one of the most highly regarded musicians of his day. A virtuosic violinist, composer, and teacher, Vivaldi was the embodiment of Italian Baroque music, writing over 500 concertos during his lifetime. Composed in 1723, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons is one of the most famous pieces of the Baroque period. This work is a set of four concertos, each depicting the various sights and sounds of a season. The Four Seasons is also accompanied by sonnets which are believed to have been written by Vivaldi himself. These sonnets offer a clue into what scene the music is portraying. In this video clip, world-renowned violin soloist Joshua Bell performs the second movement from “Summer” with the Air Force Strings. During “Summer”, Vivaldi paints the story of a shepherd tending a flock and encountering an intense thunderstorm, a common late afternoon occurrence during the summer months even today. The sonnet text for Summer reads as follows: “Under a hard season, fired up by the sun Languishes man, languishes the flock and burns the pine We hear the cuckoo's voice; then sweet songs of the turtledove and finch are heard. Soft breezes stir the air, but threatening the North Wind sweeps them suddenly aside. The shepherd trembles, fearing violent storms and his fate. The fear of lightning and fierce thunder Robs his tired limbs of rest As gnats and flies buzz furiously around. Alas, his fears were justified The Heavens thunder and roar and with hail Cut the head off the wheat and damages the grain.” We hope you enjoy this special musical guest offering from your United States Air Force Band! #AirForceSymphonyOrchestra #TheUnitedStatesAirForceBand #Summer