Vivaldi and Happy Spring!

The first day of spring is here. It may not feel like it quite yet, but warmer days are coming.

Antonio Vivaldi’s best known works are the Four Seasons, a group of four violin concertos that each gives expression to one season of the year. Spring is linked below. These seasonal concertos represent flowing creeks, singing birds, a shepherd and his dog, buzzing flies, storms, drunken dancers, hunting parties from both the hunters’ and the prey’s point of view, frozen landscapes, and warm winter fires. This was a musical revolution of concept- and Vivaldi kept notes and even wrote sonnets to go with each concerto. This is one of the earliest and most detailed examples of what would become “program music” (music with a narrative element).

Vivaldi published the Four Seasons in 1725. There is some debate on how much earlier they were written, whether the sonnets were written to go with the music or vice versa, and whether Vivaldi or someone else wrote the sonnets. Each concerto has three movements (allegro, largo, allegro or fast, slow, fast) and the sonnet was likewise broken into three parts.

Spring sonnet translation by Armand D’Angour
Allegro
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.

Largo
On the flower-strewn meadow, with leafy branches
rustling overhead, the goat-herd sleeps,
his faithful dog beside him.

Allegro
Led by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes,
nymphs and shepherds lightly dance
beneath spring’s beautiful canopy.

Winter Benefit Concert!

On Saturday, January 14, MTMS Winter Benefit Concert will happen from 3-5pm at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 4456 Morse Rd, Gahanna. Your entry fee for the concert is to bring one non-perishable food item to benefit GRIN (Gahanna Residents in Need).

This concert will be set in two sessions. Our students will delight friends and family alike with their hard work and great music – you don’t want to miss this exhibition. MTMS is extremely proud of every student and the progress they make with their music. We will be cheering them on with you.

photo shows last year’s concert proceeds for GRIN

Upcoming Schedule Through 2023

  • 12/24/22-1/1/23 – Winter Break 2022
  • 1/14/2023 – Winter Benefit Concert
  • 4/3-4/8/2023 – Spring Break
  • 4/28-4/30/2023 – Spring Recitals
  • 5/27-5/29/2023 – Memorial Day Weekend (closed Sat+Mon)
  • 7/3-7/8/2023 – Summer Break
  • 7/29/2023 – Videos due for Summer YouTube
  • 10/27-10/29/2023 Halloween Parties
  • 11/20-11/25/2023 – Thanksgiving Break
  • 12/25/2023-1/1/24 – Winter Break 2023

If you’ve ever wanted to plan ahead, this is next year’s schedule of when we’re off and when we’re having recitals. It’s exciting to know what’s coming in the new year- plan to be here where the music doesn’t stop.

Yes, we’re open today and Halloween is coming!

For today, Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day – we are open as usual. Please come prepared for lessons and all the other fun of a regular day at MTMS.

Halloween is coming! During Halloween weekend (Oct 28-30) MTMS will have so many fun activities. Friday is Gahanna’s adult-only recital, followed by Saturday Polaris recital, and Sunday Gahanna recital. Other activities include trick-or-treating from lesson room to lesson room, selfie station, a snack, and a craft. Rumor has it the lab may also be haunted for the weekend.

flute, caity, halloween