Review

Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto La Primavera: Spring from the Four Seasons

Arranged by Mark J. LaFratta

2 b-flat trumpets, horn in F, trombone (in tenor clef), tuba

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2023
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

This Concerto, originally in E major, central section in C-sharp minor, is given in this arrangement in B-flat/g minor. Some descriptive text is included in each section. The trombone part is in tenor clef throughout; its overall range is G-g1 Trumpets are in B-flat, 1st tops out at c2.

The first movement, Festive Spring is Here, is in B-flat. Birds greet spring with happy song represented by trills on 1st and 2nd trumpets. At m. 32 gentle winds blow, at m. 34 brooks flow with sweet murmurs. At m. 45, dark clouds shroud the air with a black cloak, and in the following measure, lightning and thunder appear, represented by groups of repeated 32nd notes for the lower parts and triplet 16ths for trumpets. At m. 57, the storm abates, and the little birds return to melodious song, represented by trills in the four upper parts (including trombone) on b-flat. The movement ends peacefully.

The second movement, A Goatherder and His Dog, is in g minor. It’s a pastoral scene representing a flowery meadow, the murmur of leaves, and a goat-herder singing with his dog joining in, until both of them happily fall asleep; all parts are marked pianissimo. This movement is characterised by a repeated dotted 16th/32nd rhythm played throughout by the upper parts, and an off-beat eighth/quarter rhythm played by the tuba. The trombone part is marked solo  and calls for a number of mordents and upper mordents.

The third movement, Danza Pastorale, is a graceful dance in 12/8, and in the key of B-flat, with a middle section in D-flat. All parts, including the tuba, take turns with the melody. The piece ends forte on a B-flat chord spread over three octaves.

Many of the beams in 16th and 32nd note groups are solidified, and production could have been better.

This is a challenging and interesting score. According to the publisher’s web-site, “this arrangement is suitable for advanced performers”.