3 Pieces That Evoke Nature In Your Mind

Scarlatti’s sonata in D minor "Pastorale"

This sonata by Scarlatti has elements of nature in it. For example, the trills of the right hand might be imitating the birds singing. (I hear them a lot where I live!) The “Spanish flavour” of the ornamentation, coupled with the sometimes surprising use of dissonance, provides the reminiscent of the Spanish guitar - an instrument that reminds me of textures from the wild. In the beginning of the second part of the binary movement, where Scarlatti modulates the opening theme, it is as if someone is walking down a pathway that is full of trees and it is becoming darker (a path that leads to a forest perhaps). The piece always gives me the mood of a place with lots of green elements, perhaps a rural area with very few houses where it is just you and nature, or a kind of prairie full of flowers with fresh air in a mountainous area.

Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” Concerto

This iconic piece does not need much introduction. It is extremely reminiscent of where I live: weather changes dramatically every week. My favourite seasons are spring followed by winter. Here is an authentic rendition performed by a baroque ensemble.

Debussy’s “Des pas sur la neige”

Debussy is often known as an impressionist composer. Like painters such as Monet and Renoir, impressionist composers do not tend to focus on the details, but rather the overall “impression” of the piece. In this piece called Des pas sur la neige (or “Footprints in the Snow” in English), Debussy paints a picture of…footprints in the snow! Like the shots in the video, the harmony of the piece and warmth of tone of the piano always provokes a unique calmness unlike anything else. It always makes me feel like I am in a quiet and peaceful place. This is an imaginative and expressive composition by Debussy.