Largo
"E quindi sul fiorito ameno prato
Al caro mormorio di fronde e piante
Dorme 'l Caprar col fido can' a lato."

Largo
On the flower-strewn meadow, with leafy
branches rustling overhead, the goat-herd sleeps,
his faithful dog beside him.

Allegro
"Di pastoral Zampogna al suon festante
Danzan Ninfe e Pastor nel tetto amato
Di primavera all' apparir brillante."

Allegro
Led by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes,
nymphs and shepherds lightly dance beneath the
brilliant canopy of spring.

Summer - Concerto in g minor
Allegro non molto 
"Sotto dura Staggion dal Sole accesa
Langue l' huom, langue 'l gregge, ed arde il Pino; 
Scioglie il Cucco la Voce,· e tosto intesa 
Canta la Tortorella e 'l gardelino.
Zeffiro dolce Spira, ma contesa 
Muove Borea improviso al Suo vicino;
E piang·e il Pastorel, perche sospesa
Teme fiera borasca, e 'l suo destino;"

Allegro non molto
Beneath the blazing sun's relentless heat
men and flocks are sweltering,
pines are scorched.
We hear the cuckoo's voice; then sweet songs of
the turtle dove and finch are heard.
Soft breezes stir the air....but threatening north
wind sweeps them suddenly aside. The shepherd
trembles, fearful of violent storm and what may
lie ahead.

Adagio e piano - Presto e forte
"Toglie alle membra lasse il Suo riposo Adagio e piano - F esto eforte
II timore de' Lampi, e tuoni fieri
Ede mosche, e mossoni il Stuol furioso!"

Adagio e piano - Presto e forte
His limbs are now awakened from their repose
by fear of lightning's flash and thunder's roar, as
gnats and flies buzz furiously around.

Presto
"Ah che pur troppo i Suo timor Son veri
Tuona e fulmina il Ciel e grandioso
Tronca ii capo alle Spiche e a' grani alteri.11

Presto
Alas, his worf! fears were justified, as the
heavens roar and great hailstones beat down
upon the proudly standing corn. 

Autumn - Concerto in F Major
Allegro
"Celebra  il Vilanel con balli e Canti
Del felice raccolto il bel piacere
Edel liquor de Bacco accesi tanti
Finiscono col Sonno il lor godere"

Allegro
The peasant ctebrates with song and dance the
harvest safely gathered in.
The cup of Bacchus flows freely, and many find
their relief in deep slumber.

Adagio molto
"Fa ch' ogn' uno tralasci e balli e canti
L' aria che temperata da piacere,
E la Staggion ch' invita tanti e tanti
D' un dolcissimo Sonno al bel godere."

Adagio molto
The singing and the dancing die away
as cooling breezes fan the pleasant air,
inviting all to sleep
without a care.

Allegro
"I cacciator  alla nov' alba a caccia
Con corni, Schioppi, e canni escono fuore
Fugge la belua, e Seguono la traccia;
Gia Sbigottita, e lassa al gran rumore
De' Schioppi e canni, ferita minaccia
Languida di fuggir, ma oppressa muore."

Allegro
The  hunters t dawn,
ready for the chase,
with horns and dogs and cries.
Their quarry flees while they give chase.
Terrified and wounded, the prey struggles on,
but, harried, dies.

Winter - Concerto f-minor
Allegro non molto
"Aggiacciato tremar tra neri al gen ti
Al Severo Spirar d' orrido Vento,
Correr battendo i piedi ogni momento;
E pel Soverchio gel batter i denti;”

Allegro non molto
Shivering, frozen mid the frosty snow in biting,
stinging winds;
running to and fro to stamp one's icy feet, teeth
chattering in the bitter chill.

Largo
“Passar al foco i di quieti e contenti
Mentre la pioggia fuor bagna ben cento"

Largo
To rest contentedly beside the hearth, while those
outside are drenched by pouring rain.

Allegro
Caminar Sopra 'l giaccio, ea passo lento
Per timor di cader gersene intenti;
Gir forte Sdruzziolar, cader a terra
Di nuove ir Sopra 'l giaccio e correr forte
Sin ch' il giaccio si rompe, e si disserra;
Sentir uscir dalle ferrate porte
Sirocco Borea, e tutti i Venti in Guerra
Quest' e 'l vemo, ma tal, che gioja  apporte."

Allegro
We tread the icy path slowly
fear of tripping and falling.
Then tum abruptly, slip, crash on the ground and,
rising, hasten on across the ice lest it cracks up.
We feel the chill north winds coarse through the
home despite the locked and bolted doors ...
this is winter, which nonetheless brings its own
delights.

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Symphony No. 82, “The Bear”
Program Notes by Paul Hyde

They called him “Papa” Haydn. Musicians in his orchestra gave the Austrian composer the nickname because of his friendly concern for their welfare. But he was another kind of “Papa,” too: father of the string quartet and symphony. His symphonic model became the standard for generations of composers.

Haydn was an enormously prolific composer, writing 104 symphonies. The Symphony No. 82 is among six (Nos. 82-87) he wrote for Parisian audiences in 1785-86.

The symphony features a curious subtitle, “The Bear,” inspired by a repeated drone sound in the fourth movement that reminded Paris concertgoers of the bagpipes that often accompanied dancing bears — then a popular form of street entertainment. Other observers say the low drone might have suggested the actual growl of a bear.

The symphony is a work of great energy, charm and wit.

1. Vivace assai. The first movement is festive, opening with a rising theme, followed by a softer, more intimate phrase for strings, then a brilliant fanfare. In a few measures, then, Haydn has announced the material that will dominate the movement.
2. Allegretto. The second movement is written in the form of a graceful theme and variations. The main theme is a simple tune, with the first half in F major and the second half in the minor mode. Haydn puts this primary subject through a variety of creative variations.
3. Menuetto. The third movement is a stately minuet. Delicate woodwind solos provide contrast.
4. Finale: Vivace. The low strings provide the soft drone-like sound against which the high strings and woodwinds weave an irresistible dancing theme. The high-spirited proceedings bring the symphony to an exuberant conclusion.

Paul Hyde is the longtime program annotator for the Greenville Symphony. Follow Paul on Facebook and Twitter: @PaulHyde7.