Vivaldi - Concerto No. 4 in F minor, "Winter," Allegro non molto (MP3, 3.1MB)
To tremble from cold in the icy snow,
In the harsh breath of a horrid wind;
To run, stamping one's feet every moment,
Our teeth chattering in the extreme cold
Vivaldi - Concerto No. 4 in F minor, "Winter," Largo (MP3, 1.8MB)
Before the fire to pass peaceful,
Contented days while the rain outside pours down.
Vivaldi - Concerto No. 4 in F minor, "Winter," Allegro (MP3, 2.9MB)
We tread the icy path slowly and cautiously,
for fear of tripping and falling.
Then turn abruptly, slip, crash on the ground and, rising,
hasten on across the ice lest it cracks up.
We feel the chill north winds course through the home
despite the locked and bolted doors...
this is winter, which nonetheless
brings its own delights.
Previous Advent posts:
2003: McCabe, "Christmas Night of '62"
2004: Low, Christmas Morn
2005: Bad Santa
2006: Dickens, From A Christmas Carol, first stave
2007: Arctic Madonna