Collection of music videos

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was an Italian priest, violinist, and composer known as the Red Priest (“il prete rosso”). Born in Venice , he learned to play the violin from his father as a child. At the age of 15, he entered the seminary , and after his ordination, he was unable to fulfill his religious duties due to health problems. Consequently, he was appointed violin teacher at an orphanage, where he taught both theory and instrumental instruction. At 40, he was appointed Maestro di Cappella in Mantua , where he composed his famous Four Seasons . From there, he moved to Milan , then to Rome , later back to Venice , and finally to Vienna , where he died. Throughout his life, he composed nearly 800 works, half of which were concertos, 40 operas, 60 religious works, and numerous sonatas.

The Four Seasons is a set of four violin concertos (Fast-Slow-Fast), which at its premiere included an explanatory booklet similar to what we understand as program music . Today we present the Spring Concerto with Julia Fisher as soloist.

Spring. This is what the booklet that can serve as a guide for listening said: “ I (0’20’’) ALLEGRO “Spring has arrived, and the birds greet it with joyful song, and the fountains with the breath of the zephyrs. Meanwhile, with a sweet murmur they flow: Lightning and thunder, chosen to announce it, come covering the air with a black mantle. Thus, the little birds fall silent; they return once more to their melodious charm.” II (3’43’’) LARGO E PIANISSIMO SEMPRE “And so, on the flowery and pleasant meadow, to the dear murmur of woods and plants, the goatherd sleeps with his faithful dog by his side.” III ( 6’38’’) ALLEGRO PASTORALE “To the festive sound of the pastoral hurdy-gurdy, nymphs and shepherds dance on the beloved rooftop at the brilliant arrival of spring.”

I Musici is an Italian chamber orchestra based in Rome , composed of six violins, two violas, two cellos, a double bass, and a harpsichord. Formed in 1952 and comprised of virtuoso instrumentalists, the ensemble was deliberately created without a conductor to highlight the individual freedom of each member. Their repertoire consists primarily of Italian Baroque works, with their interpretations of Antonio Vivaldi 's Four Seasons being particularly noteworthy. With over 60 years of continuous history, they are currently the oldest active chamber ensemble. Arturo Toscanini declared them the best chamber orchestra in the world after attending one of their rehearsals.

Ottorino Respighi (1879–1936) was an Italian composer, conductor, and musicologist. He began his piano and violin studies with his father, continuing them at the Liceo Musicale in Bologna , where he also studied composition and early music history. In 1900, he accepted the position of principal violist in the orchestra of the Russian Theatre in St. Petersburg, where he met Rimsky-Korsakov. He studied orchestration with Rimsky-Korsakov for five months, after which he returned to Bologna. In 1913, he was appointed professor of composition at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome , a position he held for the rest of his life. He wrote works for piano, guitar, violin and piano, various chamber ensembles, numerous symphonic works, choral music, eight operas, and five ballets.

The "Botticellian Triptych" is a work by Respighi , written in 1927 and structured in three movements (I. Spring, II. The Adoration of the Magi, III. The Birth of Venus ) inspired by paintings by the renowned Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli . The work reflects Respighi 's characteristic style, with rich and colorful orchestration and a strong sense of Italian Impressionism . Respighi , in addition to being a composer, was a scholar of early music; in this work, he fuses Renaissance sensibility with the modern orchestral language of the early 20th century . The Botticellian Triptych was composed during his most mature period and reflects his fascination with the visual art and cultural history of Italy .

Spring is the first of the triptych's three movements, whose fresh, lively, and pastoral music evokes the arrival of spring with light melodies, florid textures, and a bucolic atmosphere. Respighi uses dance-like rhythms and motifs reminiscent of Renaissance music, all within an impressionistic style heavily influenced by Debussy and Ravel , yet imbued with Respighi 's unmistakable orchestral color.

Today the Prometheus Foundation Orchestra (Argentina) conducted by the Italian maestro Giovanni Panella offers us this video of the work.

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), an Austrian composer whose brother Michael Haydn was also a notable composer, was one of the principal figures of the Classical period (1750-1810). At the age of six, he began his studies of harpsichord and violin. At eight, he was admitted as a chorister to St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, where he received lessons in singing, piano, and violin. After his voice changed, he had to support himself by working various jobs while studying composition, analyzing the works of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach . He laid the foundations for sonata form and the formal structure of the string quartet and the symphony ; he maintained a close friendship with Mozart and was Beethoven 's teacher.

The catalogue of Haydn's works . Joseph Haydn's works are classified today according to the system created by Anthony van Hoboken. Each work is identified by a Roman numeral that corresponds to the category, which in most cases is associated with a genre. Some categories have subdivisions, indicated by a lowercase letter followed by an Arabic numeral that corresponds to the work's position within the category. These numerals are preceded by the word Hoboken (in memory of the catalogue's author) and sometimes by Hob (its abbreviation).

The Seasons, Hob. XXI. 3. Haydn was spurred to write this oratorio by the great success of his earlier oratorio, The Creation (1798), which had become very popular and was being performed throughout Europe. Like The Creation, The Seasons was conceived as a bilingual work; since Haydn was very popular in England (especially after his visits there in 1791–1792 and 1794–1795), he wished the work to be able to be performed in both English and German, and it took him two years to complete it. The Seasons is written for a fairly large orchestra, a chorus that sings mainly in four parts, and three vocal soloists—the same as in The Creation . The oratorio is divided into four parts: I Spring, II Summer, III Autumn , and IV Winter , with the usual recitatives, arias, refrains, and ensemble numbers.

Part One: "Spring." This section represents the awakening of Nature after winter. It has a cheerful, pastoral tone, beginning with a lively overture that depicts the end of winter and the rebirth of the natural world. We hear birds singing, thawing rivers, and flowers blooming, all painted with the diverse orchestral colors that imitate natural sounds such as the cuckoo's call, the murmur of streams, and so on. The development section includes parts for soloists (soprano, tenor, bass) portraying peasant characters, and a chorus that sings of the renewal of life; all within a balance between solemnity and joy, and with very descriptive and vibrant moments.

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was a French composer considered the first composer of Impressionism . In 1884, with his cantata L'enfant prodigue, he won France 's most prestigious music prize, the Prix de Rome . Upon returning to Paris, he was deeply impressed by Wagner 's opera Tristan und Isolde , "the best thing I have ever heard." He was later influenced by the structures of Javanese music, the harmonic freedom of Rimsky-Korsakov, and Erik Satie , who shared his artistic vision. In 1894, he premiered his Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune ; four years later, at the age of 37, he achieved international fame with his only completed opera , Pelléas et Mélisande . Today, Debussy is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century .

Musical Impressionism arose from the idea of expressing ideas in a subtle way. Its main characteristics are: A) A freer tempo , allowing for rubato at the performer's discretion. B) The use of Greek modes , introducing numerous variations and even inventing them (as in Claude Debussy 's Syrinx for solo flute); scales from different ethnic groups are also frequently found (as in the third movement of Maurice Ravel 's Ma mère l'oye ). C) Experimentation with timbre , making it one of the most important factors in Impressionist music. Claude Debussy, along with Maurice Ravel and Erik Satie, are undoubtedly the most renowned Impressionist composers.

Printemps (Spring) is a symphonic suite written by Claude Debussy when he was about 25 years old, while studying at the Villa Medici in Rome after winning the prestigious Prix de Rome . The work was originally written for piano four hands and choir, although the original score was lost. In 1912, the work was reconstructed and orchestrated by Henri Büsser , based on Debussy 's sketches, and it is this version that is performed today. Although his style is not as radical as in his later works, Printemps already displays the use of ambiguous harmonies, orchestral colors, and a more evocative than structured sensibility. Debussy said he attempted to portray “the different phases of Nature during spring”: from the rebirth of life to the climax of vital energy. He explained that with Printemps he wasn't trying to directly imitate natural sounds (like birds or the wind), but rather to capture the emotional essence of spring: the awakening of nature, the vital enthusiasm, the color, the light. Printemps is an early work by Debussy that foreshadows his Impressionist style , although it still contains elements of late Romanticism ; it is a composition rich in atmosphere and color, more focused on evoking sensations than on adhering to strict musical forms.

The work is structured in two movements: I (0`38``) TRÈS MODÉRÉ .-. II (9`28``) MODÉRÉ and today it is offered to us by the National Orchestra of France conducted by the French maestro Emmanuel Krivine

Joan Baez (1941) is an American singer, songwriter, and activist whose contemporary folk music often included protest songs or songs about social justice. Characterized by a powerful, high-pitched voice with a skillfully controlled vibrato , she was one of the leading figures of the protest song movement that emerged in the 1960s, fueled by the Vietnam War . Her repertoire, however, also encompasses traditional folk, country , and pop rock , and she is also a songwriter. She began her musical career in 1960 and achieved immediate success. Her first three albums, Joan Baez, Joan Baez Vol. 2 , and Joan Baez in Concert , were certified gold . In her professional performances, she demonstrated her commitment to nonviolence, civil rights, human rights, and environmental protection.

Elissa (1972), born in Lebanon to a Lebanese father and a Syrian mother, is one of the most renowned Arab singers. She began her artistic career very young, participating in theater before dedicating herself fully to music. She launched her career at age 20, winning the silver medal at the Lebanese competition LBC . Then, in 1998, she released the single "Baddi Doub ," a fusion of Arabic music and flamenco , whose success led her to participate in the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. She has received significant acclaim in Hollywood , London , and throughout the Arab world, and has sold over 30 million albums throughout her career, making her one of the most successful female Arab artists. Her style is primarily romantic Arabic pop , with lyrics that explore love, heartbreak, and deep emotions, earning her the nickname "Queen of Emotions." She is a singer who has skillfully blended traditional Arabic elements with more contemporary sounds, allowing her to connect with diverse audiences.

Chinese martial arts . Over the centuries, hundreds of fighting styles have developed in China , each with its own martial arts schools and physical exercises inspired by the movements of specific animals or ancient Chinese beliefs. Their origins date back more than 4,000 years as a means of self-defense against attacks from other peoples, for which hand-to-hand combat was unavoidable and military training indispensable. Today, transformed into an astonishing artistic spectacle, we can witness the movements of thousands of young people with pinpoint precision and synchronization—young people from the Henan Shaolin Tagou Martial Arts School , the largest Kung Fu school in the world, located in Henan province, in the area of the Songshan Shaolin Temple.

Francisco de Madina Igarzábal , known as Aita Madina (1907-1972), was a Lateran friar, musician, and composer from the Basque Country, born in Oñati , Gipuzkoa . As a teenager, he entered the novitiate of the Canons Regular of the Lateran . Alongside his theological studies, he pursued musical training in Oñati and Burgos , where he was a student of José María Beobide and Antonio José Martínez Palacios. In 1932, he was assigned to Argentina , where he worked as a composer, premiering numerous works. In 1955, he moved to New York, where he continued composing and premiering his works. In April 1972, he returned for the last time from New York to his native farmhouse in Oñati , where he died a few months later.

Udaberriko Abestia (Spring Song) is one of the twelve movements of the Symphonic-Choral Poem “Arantzazu,” composed by Father Madina to commemorate the construction of the new Basilica of Arantzazu . The work is based on the text of the poem Arantzazu. Euskal-sinismenaren poema by Salbatore Mitxelena , published in 1949, which deals with Marian devotion (the Virgin of Arantzazu): the apparition, the pilgrimage, and Basque faith; a work of great symbolic weight in Basque literature and religious sensibility. Madina 's Symphonic-Choral Poem is organized into twelve sections, the fourth of which is Spring , which we present today. This section marks a transition from the initial scenes, which evoke the arrival, the shepherds, the springtime atmosphere, youth, and hope, to the more dramatic themes that follow (struggle, pain, and supplication). “ Udaberriko Abestia ” serves as an introduction of hope, renewal, youth, and a celebration of what is to come. Madina wanted his music to be understandable to the people (“for the common people”), so this part of the work employs a romantic lyricism that evokes nature, freshness, joy, and the welcoming of spring. In the Basque historical and cultural context of the 1950s, following the Spanish Civil War and a period of cultural repression, this spring song can be symbolically interpreted as a breath of inner renewal and an expression of identity.

Today we are presented by the Oñati and Zarautz choirs, the Zarautz Music Band and the students of the Zarautz Dance School “Gabota”