Vivaldi's The Four Seasons by Candlelight at St Andrew's Church, Alfriston on Saturday 28th February 2026

Vivaldi's The Four Seasons by Candlelight

Add to my Calendar 28-02-2026 19:00 28-02-2026 21:00 36 Vivaldi's The Four Seasons by Candlelight Probably written between 1718 and 1723, the four violin concertos which make up The Four Seasons are an early example of programme music – music, that is, which references extra-musical elements. In this case the programme is very clear, as Vivaldi’s score includes the text of four sonnets, possibly his own work, which describe the features of the four seasons which the music describes – down to the details of barking dogs, buzzing flies, birdsong, drunken dancers, frozen landscapes and winter fires. Vivaldi’s most popular work, it has been recorded, arranged and reinterpreted thousands of times. Purcell’s Chacony in G minor dates from about 40 years earlier in 1680 and was originally written for the theatre after the restoration of Charles II. A set of variations written over four descending notes of the minor scale, it achieves great emotional depth and was arranged for string quartet by Benjamin Britten, an ardent admirer of Purcell’s music. Tonight’s concert is led by violinist Jonathan Truscott. Standing on a mound which rises from the village green (the ‘Tye’), St. Andrew’s Alfriston is a superb and spacious church dating entirely from the 14th century with almost no later additions. Known as ‘the cathedral of the Downs’, it is built, unusually, in the shape of a Greek cross, with four equal arms and a central tower which houses six bells, still used by an enthusiastic group of bellringers. St Andrew's Church, Alfriston DD/MM/YYYY

Details

St Andrew's Church
The Tye
Alfriston
East Sussex
BN26 5TL
England

Saturday 28th February 2026
7:00 PM

Tickets

Prices: £20 adults, under 18s free
Book Tickets

Programme

Antonio Vivaldi – The Four Seasons
Henry Purcell – Chacony in G minor, Z.730

Performers

Jonathan Truscott – violin

Programme Note

Probably written between 1718 and 1723, the four violin concertos which make up The Four Seasons are an early example of programme music – music, that is, which references extra-musical elements. In this case the programme is very clear, as Vivaldi’s score includes the text of four sonnets, possibly his own work, which describe the features of the four seasons which the music describes – down to the details of barking dogs, buzzing flies, birdsong, drunken dancers, frozen landscapes and winter fires. Vivaldi’s most popular work, it has been recorded, arranged and reinterpreted thousands of times.

Purcell’s Chacony in G minor dates from about 40 years earlier in 1680 and was originally written for the theatre after the restoration of Charles II. A set of variations written over four descending notes of the minor scale, it achieves great emotional depth and was arranged for string quartet by Benjamin Britten, an ardent admirer of Purcell’s music.

Tonight’s concert is led by violinist Jonathan Truscott.

Standing on a mound which rises from the village green (the ‘Tye’), St. Andrew’s Alfriston is a superb and spacious church dating entirely from the 14th century with almost no later additions. Known as ‘the cathedral of the Downs’, it is built, unusually, in the shape of a Greek cross, with four equal arms and a central tower which houses six bells, still used by an enthusiastic group of bellringers.

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