The Seasons (Haydn)
The musical work The Seasons is a secular oratorio by Joseph Haydn , 1732–1809, premiered in 1801 ( Hob. XXI: 3). It was the last of his four oratorios.
Composition, premiere and reception
Haydn's composition of the seasons was inspired by the great success of his previous oratorio The Creation (1798), which was performed all over Europe at the time. As with that work, the libretto for The Seasons was written by Baron Gottfried van Swieten , an Austrian nobleman who also had a great influence on Mozart's career. Van Swieten's libretto was his own German rendition of an excerpt from the English verse epic of James Thomson's The Seasons .
The composition was laborious for Haydn, partly because of his bad health and partly because van Swieten's text did not convince him. It took him two years to complete The Seasons .
The premiere on April 24, 1801 in Vienna was a success, but it was not comparable to that of the creation . In the years that followed, The Seasons were performed significantly less often than the earlier oratorio.
The reason for the lower popularity is sought less in the music than in the libretto. Oratorios were typically written on Christian topics and often drew their textual bases from the Bible or the stories of saints. The libretto of the seasons, on the other hand, is largely descriptive of the cycle of the year and day. Only the final movement addresses topics recognized as being more valuable (the meaning of life, eternal life ). Strikingly, these final passages are not translations from Thomson's poem, but rather original works by van Swieten.
In terms of content, the seasons therefore correspond neither to a religious oratorio nor to the ideal of a work of art in the spirit of the Enlightenment ; their cheerful and haunting descriptions of nature and transfigurations of rural life rather show the influence of Rousseau's philosophy . The position of Haydn in this area of tension cannot be finally clarified. Haydn commented ironically on the ode to diligence (although he had been diligent all his life, he was asked for the first time to write a choir in praise of diligence), which glorified a sober work ethic - corresponding irony may also be found in the musical design can be recognized by unusual voice guidance - on the other hand, also humorous fun at the wine festival of the country folk (“I've never written such a comical counterpoint and such a drunk fugue”). Haydn's designation of the libretto as “French apostasy” is again an indication of a rejection of Rousseau's theses, without any identification with the ethical spirit of the Enlightenment, as it emerges more strongly in creation .
occupation
Die Jahreszeiten is written for a large late classical orchestra , mostly a four-part choir and three vocal soloists, who archetypically represent the country folk: Simon (bass), Lukas (tenor), and Hanne (soprano). The cast of the solo voices is thus the same as in creation .
The orchestra consists of two flutes (2nd also piccolo ), two oboes , two clarinets , two bassoons and contrabassoon , four French horns , two (three in the final chorus) trumpets , kettledrum , triangle , tambourine , two trombones and bass trombone as well as the usual string ensemble first and second violin , viola , cello , and double bass . For the secco recitatives : harpsichord or fortepiano (violoncello and double bass ad libitum ).
content
The oratorio consists of four parts , corresponding to spring , summer , autumn and winter , with the usual recitatives , arias and choirs .
Among the livelier choral movements are a hunting song with French horn sounds, a wine festival with dancing peasants, and an angry storm, the latter two elements seeming foreshadowing the third and fourth movements of Beethoven's pastoral symphonies . More lyrical passages are the choir prayer for a rich harvest, "Be gracious now, mild sky", the gentle onset of night that follows the storm, and Hannes Cavatine for winter.
The composition is - as in the creation - often illustrative and painterly. For example, a plowing farmer at work the familiar theme from Haydn's symphony with the bang , a bird shot by a hunter also falls down musically, a sunrise is portrayed in a radiant D major.
After two hours of such secular scenes from nature and rural life, the work closes with an invocation to God and an amen .
Music numbers
The seasons are divided into four parts: "Spring", "Summer", "Autumn" and "Winter".
The spring
- 1. Overture and Recitative - See how the severe winter flees
The introduction is an overture that introduces the transition from winter to spring. This is followed by a recitative for soprano, tenor and bass, in which spring is announced.
- 2. Come on, sweet spring
The country folk choir asks for the early arrival of spring.
- 3. Now radiate from Aries
Simon's recitative (bass)
- 4. The farmer is already running happily
Aria of simon (bass)
- 5. The farmer has done his work
Luke's recitative (tenor)
- 6. Now be gracious
Trio and choir
- 7. Our plea is heard
Hanne's recitative (soprano)
- 8. Oh how lovely is the sight
Joy choir with alternating choir of youth
- 9. Eternal, Mighty, Good God
Choir with solo voices
The summer
- 10. Introduction and recitative - In the gray veil approaches
The summer is introduced with a short instrumental introduction. In the following recitative, Simon (bass) welcomes the new day.
- 11. The lively shepherd is now gathering
Aria and recitative by Simon (bass) and Hanne (soprano)
- 12. The sun is rising
Trio and choir
- 13. Now it stirs and moves
Simon's recitative (bass)
- 14. The midday sun is burning now
Luke's recitative (tenor)
- 15. Nature succumbs to pressure
A cavatina of Luke (tenor)
- 16. Welcome now, O dark grove
Hanne's recitative (soprano)
- 17. What refreshment for the senses
Hanne's Aria (soprano)
- 18. O see! It rises in the humid air
Recitative Simon, Lukas, Hanne
- 19. Oh, the storm is approaching
Choir
- 20. The gloomy clouds separate
Trio and choir
The autumn
- 21. Introduction and recitative - What through its bloom
Autumn is introduced with a short instrumental introduction. In the following recitative, Hanne (soprano), Lukas (tenor) and Simon (bass) welcome the new season.
- 22. He now has the rich supply
Luke's recitative (tenor)
- 23. This is how nature rewards diligence
Trio and choir
- 24. See how the hazel bush there
Recitative by Hanne (soprano), Lukas (tenor) and Simon (bass)
- 25. You beauties from town
Duet by Hanne (soprano) and Lukas (tenor)
- 26. Now show the bared field
Simon's recitative (bass)
- 27. Look at the broad meadows
Aria of simon (bass)
- 28. A dense circle is floating here
Luke's recitative (tenor)
- 29. Hear, hear, the loud noise
Hunting choir
- 30. The vine is now blinking
Recitative Hanne, Simon, Lukas
- 31. Juchhe! The wine is there
Country Folk Choir
The winter
- 32-33. Introduction and recitative - Now the pale year is descending
In the orchestral introduction the approaching winter is represented musically, it is a slow, dark piece. Then follows a recitative by Hanne (soprano) and Simon (bass)
- 34. Light and life are weakened
Cavatina of Hanne (soprano)
- 35. The broad lake stands tied up
Luke's recitative (tenor)
- 36. Here the wanderer stands now
Aria of Luke (tenor)
- 37. As it approaches
Recitative by Hanne (soprano), Lukas (tenor) and Simon (bass)
- 38. Growl, purr, growl
Song with Hanne (soprano) and choir
- 39. The flax is spun off
Luke's recitative (tenor)
- 40. A girl who was honored
Song with Hanne (soprano) and choir
- 41. A sharp puff of ice penetrates from the arid east
Simon's recitative (bass)
- 42. Look here, beguiled man
Aria of simon (bass)
- 43. She stays alone and guides us
Simon's recitative (bass)
- 44. Then the big morning dawns
Trio and double choir
literature
- James Thomson , Wolfgang Schlueter: The Seasons / The Seasons. Engeler, Weil am Rhein, Basel 2003, ISBN 3-905591-68-5 .
- Sabine M. Gruber : With one foot in the spring meadow. A walk through Haydn's seasons with pictures by Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Residence, St. Pölten, Salzburg 2009, ISBN 978-3-7017-1517-6 .
See also
- The four seasons (Vivaldi, 1725)
- The times of day (Telemann, 1757)
Web links
- libretto
- Sheet music in the International Music Score Library Project
- The Seasons: MIDI / MP3 version, with text and practice files for choristers