Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (March 4, 1678 – July 28 or 27, 1741), nicknamed Il Prete Rosso ("The Red Priest"), was a Venetian priest and baroque music composer, as well as a famous violinist. The Four Seasons, a series of four violin concertos, are his best known works and highly popular Baroque music pieces.
Antonio Vivaldi |
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Style and influence
Most of Vivaldi's repertoire was rediscovered only in the first half of the 20th century in Turin and Genoa and was published in the second half. Vivaldi's music is innovative, breaking a consolidated tradition in schemes; he gave brightness to the formal and the rhythmic structure of the concerto, repeatedly looking for harmonic contrasts and invented innovative melodies and themes. Moreover, Vivaldi was able to compose non-academic music, particularly meant to be appreciated by the wide public and not only by an intellectual minority. The joyful appearance of his music reveals in this regard a transmissible joy of composing. These are among the causes of the vast popularity of his music. This popularity soon made him famous in other countries such as France which was, at the time, very independent concerning its musical taste.
Vivaldi is considered one of the composers who brought Baroque music (with its typical contrast among heavy sonorities) to evolve into a classical style. Johann Sebastian Bach was deeply influenced by Vivaldi's concertos and arias (recalled in his Johannes Passion, Matthäuspassion, and cantatas). Bach transcribed a number of Vivaldi's concertos for solo keyboard, along with a number for orchestra, including the famous Concerto for Four Violins and Violoncello, Strings and Continuo (RV 580).
Posthumous reputation
Vivaldi remained unknown for his published concerti, and largely ignored, even after the resurgence of interest in Bach, pioneered by Mendelssohn. Even his most famous work, The Four Seasons, was unknown in its original edition. In the early 20th century Fritz Kreisler's concerto in the style of Vivaldi, which he passed off as an original Vivaldi work but which was actually by Kreisler, helped revive Vivaldi's fortunes. This impelled the French scholar Marc Pincherle to begin academic work on Vivaldi's oeuvre. The discovery of many Vivaldi manuscripts and their acquisition by the National University of Turin Library, with the generous sponsorship of Roberto Foa and Filippo Giordano (in memory of their sons, respectively, Mauro and Renzo), led to renewed interest in Vivaldi. People such as Marc Pincherle, Mario Rinaldi, Alfredo Casella, Ezra Pound, Olga Rudge, Arturo Toscanini, and Louis Kaufman were instrumental in the Vivaldi revival of the 20th century. The resurrection of Vivaldi's unpublished works in the 20th century is mostly thanks to the efforts of Alfredo Casella, who in 1939 organised the now historic Vivaldi Week, in which the rediscovered Gloria in excelsis (RV 589) was first heard again. Since World War II Vivaldi's compositions have enjoyed almost universal success, and the advent of historically informed performances has only increased his fame. In 1947, the Venetian businessman Antonio Fanna founded the Istituto Italiano Antonio Vivaldi, with the composer Gian Francesco Malipiero as its artistic director, with the purpose of promoting Vivaldi's music and publishing new editions of his works.
A movie titled Vivaldi, a Prince in Venice was completed in 2005 as an Italian-French coproduction, under the direction of Jean-Louis Guillermou, featuring Stefano Dionisi in the title role and Michel Serrault as the bishop of Venice. Another film inspired by the life of the composer is in a preproduction state: it has the working title Vivaldi, is produced and directed by Boris Damast, and is slated to have Joseph Fiennes in the title role. Also starring are Malcolm McDowell, Jacqueline Bisset, and Gérard Depardieu.
Vivaldi's music, together with that of Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Corelli, has been included in the theories of Alfred Tomatis on the effects of music on human behaviour, and used in music therapy.
His compositions include:
- Over 500 concertos; approximately 350 of these are for solo instrument and strings, and of these about 230 are for violin; the others are for bassoon, cello, oboe, flute, viola d'amore, recorder, lute, and mandolin. Approximately 40 concertos are for two instruments and strings, and approximately 30 are for three or more instruments and strings.
- 46 operas
- 73 sonatas
- chamber music (even if some sonatas for flute, as Il Pastor Fido, have been erroneously attributed to him, but were composed by Chédeville).
- His most famous work is perhaps 1723's Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons). In essence, it resembled an early example of a tone poem, where he attempted to capture all the moods of the four seasons without the use of percussion to dramatize the effects he sought to portray. (See section above for more detailed description.)
1926 and 1930 year discoveries
As per,[2] "The fate of the Italian composer's legacy is unique. After the Napoleonic wars, it was thought that a large part of Vivaldi's work had been irrevocably lost. However, in the autumn of 1926, after a detective-like search by researchers, 14 folios of Vivaldi's previously unknown religious and secular works were found in the library of a monastery in Piedmont. Some even and odd-numbered volumes were missing and so, the search continued. Finally, in October 1930, the missing volumes were found to be with the descendants of the Grand Duke Durazzo, who had acquired the property of the violinist-monk as early as the eighteenth century.
To its amazement, the world of music was presented with 300 concerts for various instruments, 18 operas, not counting a number of arias and more than 100 vocal-instrumental pieces. Such an impressive list of newly unearthed opuses warranted a re-evaluation of Vivaldi's creativity"
Recent discoveries
Recently, four sacred vocal works by Vivaldi have been discovered in the Saxon State Library in Dresden. These compositions were improperly attributed to Baldassarre Galuppi, a Venetian composer of the early classical period, mostly famous for his choral works.
In the years 1750s or 1760s, the Saxon court asked for some sacred works by Galuppi from the Venetian copyist Don Giuseppe Baldan. Baldan included, among authentic works by Galuppi, the four compositions by Vivaldi, passing them off as Galuppi's. He probably obtained the originals from two of Vivaldi's nephews, (Carlo Vivaldi and Daniele Mauro), who worked under him as copyists.
The recognition of Vivaldi's authorship could be made by analysing style and instrumentation and by recognizing arias from Vivaldi's operas.
The two most recent among these discoveries are two psalm settings of Nisi Dominus (RV 803, in eight movements) and Dixit Dominus (RV 807, in eleven movements), identified in 2003 and 2005, respectively, by the Australian scholar Janice Stockigt.
RV 803 was recorded for the first time in 2005 by the King's Consort under the direction of Robert King.
RV 807 was recorded for the first time in 2006 by the Dresdner Instrumental-Concert under the direction of Peter Kopp. Vivaldi scholar Michael Talbot called it "arguably the best non-operatic work from Vivaldi's pen to come to light since ...the 1920s".[3]
Works
Below is a list of Vivaldi works, from his many concerti to his sacred vocal works. While the list is not a complete listing of all Vivaldi works, these lists contain many known compositions, including publications during his lifetime.
Works published during his lifetime
- Opus 1, twelve sonatas for two violins and basso continuo (1705)
- Opus 2, twelve sonatas for violin and basso continuo (1709)
- Opus 3, L'estro Armonico (Harmonic inspiration), twelve concertos for various combinations. Best known concerti are No. 6 in A minor for violin, No. 8 in A minor for two violins and No. 10 in B minor for four violins (1711).
- Opus 4, La stravaganza (The extraordinary), twelve violin concertos (c. 1714)
- Opus 5, (second part of Opus 2), four sonatas for violin and two sonatas for two violins and basso continuo (1716).
- Opus 6, six violin concertos (1716–21)
- Opus 7, two oboe concertos and 10 violin concertos (1716–1721)
- Opus 8, Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione (The Contest between Harmony and Invention), twelve violin concertos including the celebrated work, Le quattro stagioni (The Four Seasons), consisting of the first four concertos in opus 8 (1723).
- Opus 9, La cetra (The lyre), twelve violin concertos and one for two violins (1727)
- Opus 10, six flute concertos (c. 1728)
- Opus 11, five violin concertos, one oboe concerto, the second in E minor, RV 277, being known as "Il favorito" (1729)
- Opus 12, five violin concertos and one without solo (1729)
- Opus 13, Il pastor fido (The Faithful Shepherd), six sonatas for musette, viela, recorder, flute, oboe or violin, and basso continuo (1737, spurious works by Nicolas Chédeville).
Operas
Concerto
Vivaldi wrote hundreds of concerti for various instruments. Below is a list of notable concerti:
Cello:
- Cello concerto in Cm, RV 401
- Cello concerto in Em, RV 409
- Cello concerto in F, RV 411
- Cello concerto in F, RV 412
- Cello concerto in G, RV 413
- Cello Concerto in G, RV 415
- Cello concerto in Gm, RV 417
- Cello concerto in Am, RV 418
- Cello concerto in Am, RV 420
- Cello concerto in Am, RV 418
- Cello concerto in Bm, RV 424
Mandolin:
- Concerto for Mandoline in C major, RV 425
- Concerto for two Mandolins in G major, RV 532
Lute:
- Concerto in D major, RV 93
Recorder and Flute:
- Concerto in D major, RV 95, "La pastorella"
- Concerto in C minor for Treble Recorder, RV 441
- Concerto in F major for Treble Recorder, RV 442
- Concerto in C major for Sopranino Recorder, RV 443
- Concerto in C major for Sopranino Recorder, RV 444
- Concerto in A minor for Sopranino Recorder, RV 445
- Concerto in F major for Flute ("La Tempesta di Mare"), RV 433 (Op. 10, No. 1), RV 98 and RV 570
- Concerto in G minor for Flute ("La Notte"), RV 439 (Op. 10, No. 2)
- Concerto in D major for Flute ("Il Gardellino"), RV 428 (Op. 10 No. 3)
- Concerto in G major for Flute, RV 435 (Op. 10, No. 4)
- Concerto in F major for Flute, RV 434 (Op. 10, No. 5)
- Concerto in G major for Flute, RV 437 (Op. 10, No. 6)
- Concerto in C major for 2 Flutes, RV 533
Brass and Woodwind:
- Concerto in C major for Two Trumpets, RV 537
- Concerto in D major for two Oboe, Bassoon, two French Horns, and Solo Violin, RV 562
- Concerto in D minor for two Recorders, two Oboe, and Bassoon, RV 566
- Concerto in F major for Oboe, Bassoon, two French Horns, and Solo Violin, RV 571
- Concerto in B-flat major for Oboe, Chalumeau, and Solo Violin, RV 579
Sacred Works
- Kyrie a 8, RV 587
- Gloria, RV 588
- Gloria, RV 589 (Online Review at The Choral Pages)
- Gloria, RV 590 (lost)
- Credo, RV 591
- Credo, RV 592
- Domine ad adiuvandum me, RV 593
- Dixit Dominus, RV 594
- Dixit Dominus, RV 595
- Confetibor, tibi Domine, RV 596
- Beatus vir, RV 597
- Beatus vir, RV 598
- Beatus vir, RV 599 (lost)
- Laudate pueri Dominum, RV 600
- Laudate pueri Dominum, RV 601
- Laudate pueri Dominum, RV 602
- Laudate pueri Dominum, RV 603
- In exitu Israel, RV 604
- Credidi propter quod, RV 605
- Laudate Dominum, RV 606
- Laetatus sum, RV 607
- Nisi Dominus, RV 608
- Lauda Jerusalem, RV 609
- Magnificat, RV 610, RV 610a, and RV 611 (Online Review at The Choral Pages)
- Stabat Mater, RV 621
- Te Deum, RV 622 (lost)
- Canta in Prato, Ride in Monte, RV 623 — not to be confused with RV 636, which is "Canta in Prato, Ride in Fonte"
- Longe Mala, Umbrae, Terrores, RV 629
- Introduzione al Dixit (RV 595) "Ascende Laeta," RV 635
- Introduzione al Dixit (RV 594?) "Canta in Prato, Ride in Fonte," RV 636 — not to be confused with RV 623, which is "Canta in Prato, Ride in Monte"
- Introduction for a Gloria "Cur sagittas," RV 637 — the preceding Gloria that was to follow this introductory motet is now presumably lost
- Introduzione al Miserere "Filiae Maestae Jerusalem," RV 638
- Introduzione al Gloria (RV 588) "Jubilate o amoeni chori," RV 639
- Introduzione al Gloria (RV 589) "Longe Mala, Umbrae, Terrores," RV 640
- Introduzione al Miserere "Non in pratis", RV 641
- Introduzione al Gloria (RV 589) "Ostro Picta", RV 642
- Oratorio Juditha triumphans, RV 644
- Confetibor, tibi domine, RV 790 — manuscript found in damaged condition
- Beatus Vir, RV 795
- Nisi Dominus, RV 803
- Dixit Dominus, RV 807
A possible setting, or even settings (considering the many settings of other liturgical text Vivaldi composed) of the Miserere may have existed, as hinted by the two introductory sets of movements intended for the piece(s), but such composition(s) have been lost.
Media
"Symphonic Guitars" Podcast #3
Vivaldi - "The Four Seasons - The Spring" - Dan Sindel
http://www.dansindel.us/podcast/DanSindel_podcast3_Vivaldi_Spring.mp3
250 unique electric guitar tracks recreate the orchestral score..!
Selected Performance ensembles specialising in Vivaldi
This list is a brief listing of ensembles with a speciality in Vivaldi's repertoire, including historically informed ensembles.
References and further reading
- ^ "[an] anonymous painting in Bologna of an unnamed violinist believed to be Vivaldi". In Michael Talbot: "Antonio Vivaldi", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (Accessed September 23, 2006), (subscription access)
- ^ Antonio Vivaldi biography by Alexander Kuznetsov and Louise Thomas, a booklet attached to the CD "The best of Vivaldi", published and recorded by Madacy Entertainment Group Inc, St. Laurent Quebec Canada
- ^ Michael Talbot, liner notes to the CD Vivaldi: Dixit Dominus, Körnerscher Sing-Verein Dresden (Dresdner Instrumental-Concert), Peter Kopp, Deutsche Grammophone 2006.
- Manfred Bukofzer (1947). Music in the Baroque Era. New York, W. W. Norton & Co. ISBN 0-393-09745-5.
- Gianfranco Formichetti, Venezia e il prete col violino. Vita di Antonio Vivaldi, Bompiani (2006), ISBN 88-452-5640-5.
- Karl Heller, Antonio Vivaldi: The Red Priest of Venice, Amadeus Press (1997), ISBN 1-57467-015-8
- Walter Kolneder, Antonio Vivaldi: Documents of His Life and Works, C F Peters Corp (1983), ISBN 3-7959-0338-6
- Eleanor Selfridge-Field (1994). Venetian Instrumental Music, from Gabrieli to Vivaldi. New York, Dover Publications. ISBN 0-486-28151-5.
- Michael Talbot, Antonio Vivaldi, Insel Verlag (1998), ISBN 3-458-33917-5
- Michael Talbot: "Antonio Vivaldi", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (Accessed August 26, 2006), (subscription access)
External links
- Catalog of instrumental works
- Complete works catalog
- Michael Talbot: Recent Vivaldi Discoveries from the online magazine Goldberg.
- Antonio Vivaldi by Fréderic Délaméa (Translated by Kirk McElhearn) from Goldberg.
- Two Vivaldi biopics may duel at the box office
- Free scores by Antonio Vivaldi in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- Template:IckingArchive
- Public Domain Scores by Vivaldi at IMSLP
- Gloria (Free sheet music)
- Magnificat (Free sheet music)
- Serenissima plays Vivaldi in mp3 (Magnatune).
- Easybyte - free easy piano arrangement of "Largo from Lute Concerto in D - RV 93" and "Four Seasons/Spring 3rd Movement" by Antonio Vivaldi plus midi sound files
- Music for the Chapel of Pietà Creative Commons MP3 Recording
- Vivaldi biography. Free English eBooks: 1. Talbot, M. Vivaldi. 1993; 2. Heller, K. Antonio Vivaldi: The Red Priest of Venice. 1997
- The Four Seasons MP3 Creative Commons Recording
- Vivaldi's music to listen Online