Composed The Four Seasons - Who

The music tells a vivid narrative without words, an early example of "program music".

The genius of the work lies in its literal yet poetic translation of the sonnet’s text into sound. In "Spring," the solo violin mimics the joyful song of birds, which are then abruptly silenced by a low, rumbling "thunder" from the full orchestra. "Summer" depicts a languid, oppressive heat, where a cuckoo, a turtle dove, and a goldfinch are heard before a violent hailstorm flattens the crops. "Autumn" explodes with a hunting party, complete with galloping rhythms and blaring horns. Most strikingly, "Winter" features a solo violin chattering with a repeated-note motif to depict teeth chattering in the freezing cold, while a cello plays the gentle patter of rain against a window. This was not abstract, cerebral music; it was visceral, cinematic, and designed to be understood by everyone. who composed the four seasons