The Seasons (Haydn) facts for kids
The Seasons (German: Die Jahreszeiten) is a special type of musical story called an oratorio. It was written by the famous composer Joseph Haydn. An oratorio is a long piece of music that uses an orchestra, a `choir` (a group of singers), and `solo` `singers`. Most oratorios tell stories from the `Old Testament` of the `Bible`. But The Seasons is different! It's all about the four `seasons` of the `year`. It describes `nature` and how people connect with nature throughout the year.
The Seasons was the last big work Haydn ever composed. He finished it in `1801`. By this time, he was the most famous composer in `Europe`. `Mozart` had passed away ten years earlier. `Beethoven` was a young man just starting to become well-known. Haydn was nearly 80 years old and not very healthy. Even though he lived for another eight years, The Seasons was his last major piece. Soon after, he stopped composing completely.
Haydn had only written one other big oratorio before this one. It was called `The Creation`. It was performed in `1798` and became very popular across `Europe`. The words for that oratorio, called the `libretto`, were written by Baron Gottfried van Swieten. He was an `Austrian` `nobleman` who loved music. He had helped Mozart earlier in his career, and now he was helping Haydn. He wanted Haydn to write a second oratorio, so he wrote the libretto for The Seasons. He based it on a long English poem by James Thomson (`1700`–`1748`). Van Swieten made the poem much shorter and changed it to fit music. He also translated it into `German`.
Haydn spent two years writing the music for The Seasons. It was first performed in `Vienna` on April 24, `1801`. The audience liked it, but not quite as much as The Creation. Haydn himself wasn't completely happy with the libretto. He thought oratorios should be about serious stories from the `Bible` or `classical mythology`, not about everyday life. Van Swieten wasn't pleased when Haydn `criticized` his words, but he didn't change them. Haydn still did his best to make the music interesting.
Contents
The Music of The Seasons
This oratorio is divided into four main parts, one for each of the `seasons`: `Spring`, `Summer`, `Autumn`, and `Winter`. Each part lasts at least half an hour. They include different musical sections:
- `recitatives`: These are like spoken parts, telling the story.
- `arias`: These are beautiful songs sung by a `solo` `singer`.
- `choruses`: These are sung by the whole `choir`.
- Ensemble numbers: These are for the `solo` `singers` together, often with the `chorus`.
There are three `solo` `singers` in The Seasons, instead of the usual four. They represent three simple country people. There's a `soprano` (high female voice) named Hanne, a `tenor` (high male voice) named Lucas, and a `bass` (low male voice) named Simon. Hanne is supposed to be Simon's daughter. There isn't a clear storyline like in an opera. Instead, it's a series of `poems` and thoughts about `nature` throughout the year.
Part I: Spring's Awakening
The start of the `Spring` section describes winter leaving and `Spring` waking up. There's a `chorus` that sounds very peaceful and like the countryside. It has a `6/8 rhythm` and `drones` that sound like country `bagpipes`.
Then, Simon sings about the farmer planting seeds. He is `accompanied` by a `bassoon`, which sounds like a busy farmer working the earth. There's a gentle `hymn` of praise with a `fugue`. A `fugue` is a type of music where different voices or instruments play the same tune one after another. This `fugue` sounds like one from Mozart's `Requiem`. Hanne invites the girls, and Simon invites the men, to go to the fields and admire the `earth`, `water`, and `air`. A `chorus` then praises `God`.
Part II: Summer's Heat and Storm
The music in the `Summer` part paints a picture of the countryside. The farmer is called to work in the morning. The `oboe` (a woodwind instrument) sounds like it's waking him up. The sun rises, and again, we thank `God` for `nature`. By midday, it becomes very hot.
Later, you can hear `insects` buzzing. We also hear a `shepherd` playing on his `pipe` (played by the `oboe`). Everything is very dry at first, but then a big `storm` arrives! The `timpani` (kettledrums) make the sound of `thunder`. When the `storm` finishes, everyone is happy. We hear the `birds` singing, the `frog` croaking, and the evening `bell` chimes eight times. The day's work is done.
Part III: Autumn's Harvest and Hunt
The words at the beginning of `Autumn` are about hard work and the rewards of that work. Haydn actually thought these words were a bit strange to set to music! Then there's a duet for a loving young couple, Lucas and Hanne. This is the only time the `solo` `singers` feel like real characters talking to each other in a story.
`Autumn` is also the `hunting` `season`, so there's exciting `hunting` music. It sounds a bit old-fashioned, like `Baroque music`. The `bassoon` plays the part of the `hound` (the `dog`). The `hounds` get hungry, and the music gets faster and faster. Suddenly, the `dogs` and the music stop. There's a `gunshot` (made by the `timpani`) as the `deer` is shot. `Autumn` finishes with a fun drinking `chorus`.
Part IV: Winter's Chill and Reflection
At the start of `Winter`, there's thick winter `fog`. Then there's a short song, which is short because nothing much grows in `Winter`. Next, there's a story about a `traveller` who gets lost in the snow. He finds shelter in a small cottage.
Hanne and the `chorus` sing a song about a `spinning wheel` turning. Many other composers later wrote music that describes a `spinning wheel`. There's another song that tells a story about a rich `nobleman` who tries to charm a country girl. But she's clever and escapes by riding off on his horse! So he's left with no horse and no girl. At times, this music sounds a bit like the music in `Mozart`'s `opera` The Magic Flute.
Simon sings an `aria` (a solo song) that compares the `seasons` to the different stages of human life. The `seasons` are used as a `metaphor`, meaning they represent something else. Finally, the `chorus` sings about the start of life in heaven. The oratorio and the `seasons` then begin all over again. The `solo` `singers`, who were three country people, are now like three `angels`. There is a final `hymn` of praise.
See also
In Spanish: Las estaciones (Haydn) para niños
