May is full of joy for lovers of nature and spring, but what about the music?
- cfresh
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The month of May has arrived, and with it comes the full blooming renaissance of nature. An inspiring and busy time for gardeners, outdoors-folks, and nature-lovers, this is the time when the fruits of the “April showers” unfold and the world feels bright and new (and dusted in pollen).
As we head towards summer, it can be a challenge to pause and enjoy each moment in this transformative month, but that’s exactly what we’re doing today! We’ll take a break from our Summer Surprise hints to bring you some May composer and classical music lore. Here we have a mixed bag of composers who entered the world in May, and some compositions that evoke the bright feelings of spring:
Gabriel Fauré (Born May 12, 1845): A key figure in the transition from Romanticism to modernism, Fauré's elegant and refined compositions, including his Requiem, chamber music, and songs, are highly regarded. Fauré’s Pavane, Op. 50, While not explicitly about spring, features flowing melodies, graceful rhythms, and delicate orchestration often that creates a serene and slightly melancholic yet beautiful atmosphere that resonates with the gentle awakening of nature in springtime. It has a light and airy quality that many find evocative of the season. {Listen on Apple Music} {Listen on Spotify}
Johann Strauss II (Born October 25, 1825) - Frühlingsstimmen (Voices of Spring) Waltz, Op. 410 (Premiered March 1, 1883): Although Strauss II was born in October and the premiere was in March, this famous waltz, whose very title translates to "Voices of Spring," perfectly captures the joyful and vibrant atmosphere often associated with May. The waltz is known for its joyful, lighthearted, and effervescent character. The melodies are soaring and memorable, and the overall effect is one of charm and elegance. Frühlingsstimmen is one of Strauss's most beloved and frequently performed waltzes. It's a staple of classical music concerts, particularly those celebrating the arrival of spring. It's also been used in numerous films, television shows, and other media. {Listen on Apple Music} {Listen on Spotify}
Erik Satie (Born May 17, 1866): Known for his unique and often minimalist style, Satie's piano works like the Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes are instantly recognizable. His experimental approach influenced many later composers. {Listen on Apple Music} {Listen on Spotify}
Benjamin Britten - Spring Symphony, Op. 44 (Premiered July 9, 1949): While not directly tied to May in terms of premiere or birth, Britten's Spring Symphony is a large-scale choral work celebrating the season of spring with texts by various poets. {Listen on Apple Music} {Listen on Spotify}
One couldn’t make a May or Spring music list without mentioning Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni). These concertos are an early and prominent example of program music – instrumental music that explicitly tries to evoke certain images, scenes, or moods. When the concertos were first published in 1725, each was accompanied by a sonnet. It's believed that Vivaldi himself wrote these poems, and the music closely follows the text, with specific musical ideas representing elements from the poems (like bird songs, storms, hunting scenes, etc.). Spring features cheerful melodies, trills that sound like birdsong, and depicts flowing streams. The sonnet companion to the Spring movement reads as follows. The lines of poetry are broken up between the three movements, each of which is titled with an Italian
tempo marking:
I. 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.
II. Largo
On the flower-strewn meadow, with leafy branches rustling overhead, the goat-herd sleeps,
his faithful dog beside him.
III. Allegro
Led by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes, nymphs and shepherds lightly dance beneath the brilliant canopy of spring.
Whether you’re working in your garden, relaxing on the patio, or protecting your sinuses from a safe distance, we hope you enjoy these selections and fill your May with music!