From http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/baroqueperiod/ss/fourseasons.htm
Vivaldi's Four Seasons was published in 1725, in a set of twelve concerto's entitled Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione (The Test of Harmony and Invention). Each concerto is in the distinct form of fast-slow-fast movements. Vivaldi's Four Seasons especially appealed to the French. King Louis XV took a liking to 'Spring' and ordered it to be performed at the most unexpected moments.
From http://www.baroquemusic.org/vivaldiseasons.html
Vivaldi also apparently composed four sonnets to correspond to each Season's Concerto. And each sonnet has 3 parts to represent the Allegro/Adagio/Allegro portions of the Concerto.
Here is the Allegro portion of the Sonnet for Concerto No.1 in E Major, RV 269, "SPRING"
"Giunt' è la Primavera e festosetti
La Salutan gl' Augei con lieto canto,
E i fonti allo Spirar de' Zeffiretti
Con dolce mormorio Scorrono intanto:
Vengon' coprendo l' aer di nero amanto
E Lampi, e tuoni ad annuntiarla eletti
Indi tacendo questi, gl' Augelletti;
Tornan' di nuovo al lor canoro incanto:"
Try Typing this into BabelFish or GoogleTranslate and see if you end up even remotely close to this:
Springtime is upon us.
The birds celebrate her return with festive song,
and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes.
Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven,
Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more.
Good Luck!
