Why should you listen to Vivaldi's "Four Seasons"? - Betsy Schwarm

譯者: Helen Chang 審譯者: Geoff Chen

Light, bright, and cheerful.

輕快、明亮、雀躍：

It's some of the most familiar of all early 18th century music.

是大家最熟悉的 18世紀初期音樂的一部份，

It's been featured in uncounted films and television commercials,

曾出現在無數的電影和電視廣告中。

but what is it and why does it sound that way?

是什麼？為什麼聽起來如此 輕快、明亮，和雀躍呢？

This is the opening of "Spring" from "The Four Seasons,"

這是《四季》中「春季」的序曲，

by Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi.

乃義大利作曲家 安東尼奧·維瓦爾第所作。

"The Four Seasons" are famous in part because they are a delight to the ear.

《四季》有名的部分原因 是它悅耳動聽；

However, even more notable

但更顯著的是這音樂述說著故事。

is the fact that they have stories to tell.

At the time of their publication in Amsterdam in 1725,

1725年在阿姆斯特丹 音樂與伴隨的詩篇同時發佈，

they were accompanied by poems

describing exactly what feature of that season

詩裡描述著維瓦爾第地 試圖用音樂捕捉的每個季節的特色。

Vivaldi intended to capture in musical terms.

In providing specific plot content for instrumental music,

維爾瓦第為樂器演奏的音樂 提供了具體的情節內容，

Vivaldi was generations ahead of his time.

比當時的人先進了好幾代。

If one were to read the poems simultaneously to hearing the music,

如果同時欣賞音樂和讀詩，

one would find the poetic scenes

就會發現詩所描寫的景像 和音樂的意境完美同步。

synchronizing nicely with the musical imagery.

We are told that the birds welcome spring with happy song,

詩裡的鳥兒以快樂的歌聲迎接春天，

and here they are doing exactly that.

音樂裡也正是如此。

[擬啁啾鳥鳴的樂聲]

Soon, however, a thunderstorm breaks out.

不久，雷雨交加。

Not only is there musical thunder and lightning,

音樂不僅呈現雷聲和閃電，

there are also more birds,

還有更多濕淋淋、 害怕、不快樂的鳥兒。

wet, frightened, and unhappy.

[小提琴聲]

In "Summer," the turtle dove sings her name "tortorella" in Italian,

「夏天」裡，班鳩唱著它的 意大利名字「tortorella」，

[擬 tortorella 聲]

before a hail storm flattens the fields.

接著，冰雹夷平了田園。

[擬冰雹暴的樂聲]

"Autumn" brings eager hunters dashing out in pursuit of their prey.

「秋天」以熱切衝出打獵 的獵人們開場。

[小提琴聲]

The "Winter" concerto begins with teeth chattering in the cold

「冬天」協奏曲的開始 是哆嗦打顫的牙齒，

[提琴顫音]

before one takes refuge by a crackling fire.

接著向劈啪作響的火堆 尋求溫暖和庇護。

[撫慰的樂聲]

Then it's back out into the storm

又回到了暴風雪中， 易滑動、跌倒的冰上世界。

where there'll be slips and falls on the ice.

[張力的樂聲]

In these first weeks of winter, the old year is coming to a close,

當舊的一年在冬初數週結束，

and so does Vivaldi's musical exploration of the seasons.

維瓦爾第探索季節的音樂 也到了尾聲。

Not until the early 19th century

直到19世紀初期

would such expressive instrumental program music, as it was known,

如此用樂器表達的音樂才開始流行。

become popular.

By then, larger, more varied ensembles were the rule

自那時起，更大型、 更多變化的合奏成為慣例，

with woodwinds, brass, and percussion to help tell the tale.

用木管樂器，黃銅 和打擊樂器協助說故事。

But Vivaldi pulled it off with just one violin, strings, and a harpsichord.

但維瓦爾第僅僅以一把小提琴、 弦樂和大鍵琴就達成了。

Unlike his contemporary Bach,

不像與他當代的巴赫， 維瓦爾第對複雜的賦格沒什麼興趣。

Vivaldi wasn't much interested in complicated fugues.

He preferred to offer readily accessible entertainment to his listeners

他情願提供聽眾平易近人的娛樂，

with melodies that pop back up later in a piece

那些事後聆聽，會觸景生情， 回想起舊地的旋律。

to remind us of where we've been.

So the first movement of the "Spring" concerto begins with a theme for spring

「春天」協奏曲的第一樂章 從春天的主題開始和結束，

and ends with it, too, slightly varied from when it was last heard.

開始和終結有些許的變化。

[春天樂章]

It was an inspired way to attract listeners,

這是種吸引聽眾，啟發靈感的方式。

and Vivaldi,

維瓦爾第

considered one of the most electrifying violinists of the early 18th century,

被認為是18世紀初 最令人興奮的小提琴家之一，

understood the value of attracting audiences.

他了解吸引聽眾的重要性。

Such concerts might feature himself as the star violinist.

有時候他是音樂會的首席小提琴手；

Others presented the young musicians of the Pietà,

其他時候則由威尼斯皮耶塔女子學校 的年輕音樂家演奏。

a Venetian girls' school where Vivaldi was Director of Music.

他擔任該校的音樂總監，

Most of the students were orphans.

大多數學生是孤兒。

Music training was intended not only as social skills suitable for young ladies

音樂不僅訓練年輕女士 適合的社交技能，

but also as potential careers

也是若她們未能得到好婚姻時 能夠從事的職業。

for those who might fail to make good marriages.

Even in the composer's own time,

即使在維瓦爾第自己的時代， 他的音樂為所有的人解悶，

Vivaldi's music served as diversion for all,

not just for the wealthy aristocrats.

不限於服務富有的貴族。

300 years later, it's an approach that still works,

三百年後，他的方法仍行得通。

and Vivaldi's music still sounds like trotting horses on the move.

維瓦爾第的音樂聽起來 仍像是快步小跑的馬匹。

[馬的小跑步聲]