The Four Seasons

[croths]

No! Not Vivaldi 
Hello, I've just joined this forum. I love classical music, I grew up listening to it. Not an expert by any means, I often recognize a piece that I know well but don't know who composed it or - sometimes - not even it's title. I hope that, for admitting to such a thing, I don't get banished.
I just discovered recently that there is another 'Four Seasons'. I heard it introduced on the radio but I didn't catch the composers name. They played 'Spring' which was vaguely familiar and beautiful. I've tried to do a search on-line but only get tons of hits referring to Vivaldi or Frankie Valli. Can anyone point me in the right direction please? Thanks very much for any help offered.
Maureen.

[Mark]

Hi Maureen. And welcome.

Quick question: the music you heard didn't have voices, did it? Just wondering if it was 'The Seasons' by Haydn. Or maybe it was Tchaikovsky - there's a piano original version and an orchestrated version of his 'The Seasons'.

[croths]

Hello and thanks.
There were no voices and the composers name was something completely unfamiliar to me.
Not one of the more well known names.
It was very early in the morning, I'd just turned the radio on and was fumbling for my coffee, so I didn't remember it. I so wish I had been more alert.

[Drasko]

It could be Astor Piazzolla, try clips 4,8,12,16 interspersed with Vivaldi's on this recording

http://www.amazon.com/Vivaldi-Piazzolla-Eight-Seasons-Astor/dp/B0000206A4

[Mark]

Hmmm ... not sure, then. Might the composer's name have been Glazunov?

[lukeottevanger]

The Piazzolla would have been my suggestion - it is a homage to Vivaldi's Venetian seasons, in terms of Buenos Aires and the Tango. As well as the Glazunov Seasons there are Tchaikovsky's Seasons too, though those are really months. But check out the Piazzolla first - it's great!

[Tancata]

Aren't bits from ballet music by Verdi sometimes called The Four Seasons...I have a vague memory of this...

Edit: Found this via Google:

....Other ballet music from Verdi's operas for Paris has had a longer shelf life. "The Four Seasons", from "Les Vespres Sicilliennes"....

http://ballettalk.invisionzone.com/index.php?s=d51fa389105ce2b7c6d92b4e800c2a4c&showtopic=3898

[Sergeant Rock]

Joachim Raff's symphonies 8, 9, 10 and 11 are collectively known as the Four Seasons. The Eighth is Spring. It's possible Maureen heard Raff but it's more likely she heard Glazunov's ballet.

Sarge

[croths]

Thank you, thank you Mark.
Glazunov it is!!
The actual piece I heard was not Spring but Summer:Coda.
I grew up listening to my Dad's music, many pieces take me back and this one certainly did when it played over the radio. I recently lost my Dad and this makes me think of him and smile.
Thank you all for your help, I never knew there were so may Seasons
Browsing the forum has been interesting and informative, I'm glad I found you and I think I'll linger awhile.

[lukeottevanger]

Very sorry to hear about your Dad - and glad you have found music that helps in some small way. I hope you enjoy the forum. 

[Maciek]

Just found this interesting thread and I don't see why we shouldn't continue. What other composers have composed "Four Seasons" cycles?

Here are the Polish ones I know of. First, two of my favorite composers:

Aleksander Lason - Chamber Music No. 5 "The Four Seasons" (available on CD, I've mentioned it in his thread)

Wlodzimierz Kotonski - a cycle of four pieces written over the years, each for a different set of instruments and electronics. The cycle is of course called "The Four Seasons".

Others that I know of:
Apolinary Szeluto "The Four Seasons" - Four Polonaises op. 58 for piano (1927)
Apolinary Szeluto "The Seasons" - Suite for orchestra op. 307 (1954)
Bronislaw Kazimierz Przybylski "The Four Seasons". 12 easy pieces for accordion (1976)