"Vivaldi: Four Seasons: Winter: 3" genre: Crossover
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	LONELY & SUBDUED, this is the perfect soundtrack to a snow-bound day. The piece opens with an intimate soliloquy on a basic 6-note pattern, which Vivaldi likens to a slippery walk on ice. A number of falling figurations are followed by a recasting of the opening solo. Some abrupt motives depict the cracking of ice. A tender passage for the warm desert wind appears, only to be overrun by a frenetic North wind toccata, bringing Winter to an icy finish.
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	Story Behind the Song *** About the Programmatic References *** Vivaldi published his Four Seasons accompanied by four descriptive sonnets, which functioned as musical aids to help the public in its listening experience. However, the music had been circulated for years without the verses. In my opinion they are useful for historical insights and trivia, but should be mostly forgotten after an initial reading. Here are the sonnet lines (translated from Italian) that Vivaldi attributes to the third movement of Winter. Numbers in brackets indicate the precise time in the music at which the words are associated. [0:00] To walk on the ice and, [0:21] at slow pace (For fear of falling), move carefully. [0:40] To make a bold turn, slip, [0:48] fall down. [0:51] To go on the ice once more and run hard [1:30] Until the ice cracks and breaks up. [1:46] To hear the Sirocco, [2:17] Boreas, and all [2:21] The winds at war leave their iron gates: [2:50] This is winter, but, even so, what joy it brings!

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