Sirocco, Borea, e tutti i Venti in guerra
Quest' é 'l verno, mà tal, che gioja apporte."
from Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Le Stagioni: L'Inverno
(Concerto IV)
This week, an image called
Flowforms in Ice. Also: a new
translation from the Italian.
December: Flowforms in Ice and Images of Winter
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"...Sentir uscir dalle ferrate porte Sirocco, Borea, e tutti i Venti in guerra Quest' é 'l verno, mà tal, che gioja apporte." from Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Le Stagioni: L'Inverno (Concerto IV) This week, an image called Flowforms in Ice. Also: a new translation from the Italian. |
The guest poem for this week is a new English
translation of a little-known sonnet
which was published together with the first edition of
Antonio Vivaldi's
(1678-1741)
Le Stagioni: L'Inverno / The Seasons: Winter. Whether
Vivaldi himself
composed the sonnet is somewhat doubtful, but it does condense his own quasi
programmatic phrases included in the margins of the original score. The
famous
entrance of the solo violin, for example, is preceded with
"Orrido Vento"
/
"Terrible Winds" . Whatever we think of the
poetry these days, the images
of winter upon which it is based did lead Vivaldi to compose some of the
most
inspired string music of all time:
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L'Inverno Aggiacciato tremar trà nevi algenti Al Severo Spirar d'orrido Vento, Correr battendo i piedi ogni momento; E pel soverchio gel batter i denti; Passar al fuoco i di quieti e contenti Mentre la pioggia fuor bagna ben cento Caminar sopra 'l giaccio, e a passo lento Per timore di cader girsene intenti; Gir forte, sdruzziolar, cader à terra Di nuovo ir Sopra 'l giacio e correr forte Sin ch' il giaccio si rompe, e si disserra; Sentir uscir dalle ferrate porte Sirocco, Borea, e tutti i Venti in guerra Quest' é 'l verno, mà tal, che gioia apporte. Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Le Stagioni: L'Inverno (Concerto IV) |
Winter In icy snow showers an unyielding shivering With biting blasts the terrible winds blow, A stamping of feet now covered with snow, And a clatter of teeth in a cold so forbidding; Peaceful and contented in front of the fire As hard rains soak where not a light does glow, Walking on ice, with care and most slow, Falling not great skill does require; A fast turn, a slip, a fall to the ground, Once more on the ice and walking fast, Until it cracks and chasms are found; Feel—out of frozen portals blowing past Southeast and North—, furious Winds unbound, Yes Winter, but still, such joy unsurpassed. (tr. Cliff Crego) The Four Seasons: Winter (Concerto IV) |