Primavera!!! ... and Eggs!

Every spring is the only spring-

A perpetual astonishment.

~ Ellis Peters

I have been crazy busy, running up and down Southern California for various workshops (pastel and spiritual) which have been wonderful but I will have to get into all that later! Time to call yellow cab and pick up my little Honda, who has been in recovery after all the running around!

It feels like spring today so ... I thought I'd share a little springtime. :)

An excerpt from the post "La Primavera di Vivaldi" on the wonderful italian language blog, Italian Blog

(Check it out, especially if you are learning Italian!)

"Vivaldi composed Le Quattro Stagioni as ‘musica a programma’ (music that evokes a particular theme), and each one of the four seasons were originally accompanied by a sonnet. It is not known if the poems were written by Vivaldi himself, or whether he commissioned them from a poet. However, the words, which are written in a the flowery Italian of the 1700′s, are lovely, and describe the music very well. Here is the sonnet for La Primavera with an anonymous translation into English:"

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.
On the flower-strewn meadow, with leafy branches rustling overhead, the goat-herd sleeps, his faithful dog beside him.
Led by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes, nymphs and shepherds lightly dance beneath the brilliant canopy of spring.

Giunt’è la Primavera e festosetti
La salutan gl’augei con lieto canto,
E i fonti allo spirar de’ zeffiretti
Con dolce mormorìo scorrono intanto;
Vengon coprendo l’aer di nero manto
E lampi, e tuoni ad annuntiarla eletti
Indi tacendo questi, gl’augelletti
Tornan di nuovo al lor canoro incanto:
E quindi sul fiorito ameno prato
Al caro mormorìo di fronde e piante
Dorme ‘l caprar col fido can’ a lato.
Di pastoral zampogna al suon festante
Danzan ninfe e pastor nel tetto amato
Di Primavera all’apparir brillante.

Unfortunately, I couldn't imbed the Itzhak Perlman version but this (below) is beautiful too. Last year I saw part of The Four Seasons done at the Hollywood Bowl and they showed the poetry on screens, as the symphony played. As it's one of my absolute favorites, I was in heaven!

Enjoy!!!

This part is so gorgeous, it makes me want to weep! Such beauty!!

Happy Spring Everyone!!!

Blessings and light!!