Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

The Four Seasons is one of my favorite pieces of music, and it’s my favorite Baroque piece

So far I would say that this is the BEST App ever made! I don’t mind the Original Version, but to me, Max Richter’s Recomposed Version is SPOT ON! It’s too bad that I have to buy the Sheet Music for this recomposed piece, but I can still listen to each of the instruments.

This is a rich resource that brings a lot of pleasure from listening to the music to hearing scholars ruminate about the history and configuration of the music. Worth every penny

Compared to the 9th Symphony Beethoven app, this app has more flaws which could be corrected with an update if Touchpress would do so. Although stated in the credits and sources, the reference score used in the app is NOT the one used in the recording - if only TP provided both versions then it would have been better. At many times, the animated players view (showing which chair is actively playing) is wrong and sync between the score can vary because of the adlibs done in the recorded vesion. The so-called reimagining of the four seasons is forgettable but worth a listen or two. It doesn't bring/add much as it feels like a bad imitation of the original instead.of what it was intended. If this is your first TP app for music analysis, go for the beethoven version first

If you love the Four Seasons, this is a MUST have app. Phenomenal!

Max Richter's "recompose" has no place here, at all. It is not a bad piece of music, but it does not help learn or appreciate Four Seasons in any way. It is purely modern and overly synthesized. The fact that it is half the app is ridiculous. This cheap pet trick is not worthy of serious, or other, study. Instead, how about replace it with an original composition, using the baroque instruments, and one with contemporary instrument composition. Then you could get an real better understanding of the music and how it has evolved with the changing face of symphonic composition. Couldn't give it fewer stars, because it is one of the greatest and most popular pieces of music ever written.

In the age of iTunes, we’ve become accustomed to being able to purchase rich and useful apps for a couple of bucks. Perhaps we’ve been a little spoiled. Because, nowadays, when I am shelling out $12 for something (about the cost of eating lunch out), I am expecting my mind to be blown. This app follows the same pattern as the delightful Orchestra app released in December 2013 providing the user with the ability to follow the score as the music is played. For musical nerds like me, it’s a terrific pastime and helps increase my appreciation and understanding of popular classical pieces. What this app is lacking is a visual of the musicians performing the actual classical Four Seasons piece. There is footage of the Max Richter “recomposed” version (which is little more than a “new age” twist on the classical favorite…to be honest I am not crazy about it…for a piece like this that captivates the listener every time even 400 years later, why mess with it?). I have a feeling I am paying for that footage to be included and the royalties going to Mr. Richter. Hmmm…I had rather the funding been used to capture the performance of the original composition. The additional material is nice as well including text and short videos providing background on Vivaldi’s life and interpretations of his magical and groundbreaking composition. It’s still fun to watch the score, and the “beat maps” as the music is performed via high-quality recording. i am not sure why parts of the score are missing, though. Why is there no cello nor harpsichord part included when clearly those instruments are included in the recording? Weird. All in all, it’s a nice app but feels a little scant for something with a $11 price tag. Maybe an update will include more layers making it a more comprehensive app. I highly recommend the Beethoven’s 9th app also by Touch Press. Around the same price and includes four separate and complete recordings of the popular symphony, complete score, footage of performances, beat maps and all. Probably one of the best ever apps I have downloaded.

I learned more about Vivaldi from this app than in a semester of music history and two of music literature in college. (Well, maybe if I'd paid more attention in class...) Very well-done app, and while I do prefer the classic (or rather baroque), the discussion on the Recomposed version is interesting.

But a little tricky to navigate. Maybe with more time I will get it, but one can never really say anything bad about the Four Seasons.

This is a really fantastic app. You learn a ton about Vivaldi, the four seasons, and the music in general. I love how the score follows along with the music and it makes learning more about the music easier than ever. It's a really interactive and I have learned a lot already. The video interviews supplement the text pretty nicely. Great job, TouchPress!