Vivaldi, Four Seasons, Winter

Vivaldi, Four Seasons, Winter, 1st movement

During the Baroque Era, Venice remained a prosperous state where music and art culture continued to flourish. In this last century of independence and prosperity, Venice was home to the Carnival of Venice, a months-long celebration where masked revelers engaged in joyful festivities incognito all day and night. The 18th century also gave birth to Antonio Vivaldi’s most famous works, most notably, the Four Seasons. The video, set to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: Winter, 1st movement, draws inspiration from the piece’s ritornello form, where masked figures are featured in various spots around Venice, with alternating scenes of the violinist during the solo sections. The video is unique in that it replaces the usual wintery snow imagery with scenes of elaborately dressed people wearing Venetian masks. Historically, the Carnival of Venice began in the winter, about two months before Easter Sunday. Thus, even though winter has arrived, the masked revelers are ready to party the night. The overall fast pace of the piece suggests an eventful winter. Throughout the piece, we can hear the soloist trying to break away from the orchestra but each time, the orchestra imitates it and the soloist is denied full control. This could be interpreted as the individual’s concentration on the life’s more exterior and personal, frivolous pleasures.

The ritornello form is evident in both the video and the music that inspires it. The general form of the piece is Theme 1 – Solo 1– Theme2 – Solo 2– Theme 1 – Solo 3 – Theme 2 – Closing. In the first theme, the strings enter one after another; this is similar to how the masked Venetians make their entrance, suggesting that winter has come. The strings tread lightly with trills played at piano until the principal violin decides to break away and start its solo (0:04). This is alluded to when the masked figure in red spreads its wings. The red costume is much more excessive than the other costumes and...