antonio VIVALDIComposerteacher virtuoso and Baroque extraordinaire

Created by Julia VoyeFerrin MUSC 1010

BIOGRAPHY

Born: Venice March 4, 1678Died: Vienna July 28, 1741

Oldest of 9 children in poor family Taught violin by his father

Trained as a priest Nicknamed “Il Prete Rosso” or The Red

Priest Chronic bronchial asthma

Left the priesthood to write music

Ospedale della Pieta school Esteemed music

school for daughters of noblemen

First teacher, then resident composer

Many concertos are technique exercises

Employed by the school for 25 years

1710Begins publishing music

“L’Estro Armonico” Harmonic Inspiration Very popular and

influential 1713 Opera debut

“Ottone in Villa” 1717 Begins travels Appointed Chamber

Kapellmeister for governor of Mantua

AnnaGIRAUD

• Met in Mantua as a soprano in his opera

• She stayed with him for the rest of his life

• Maintained they were only friends

• Would later cause a scandal

The Four Seasonsandthe popular years

1925 – premiere 8th Opus, including “la Quattro Stagione” or The Four Seasons

Received wild acclaim and success Continue to travel and tour Europe until 1733 Very popular even amongst nobility

“Spring” movement personal favorite of King Louis XIV of France

Turn of fortune and death• Mid 1730’s – decline in popularity and

loss of finances• Scandal about relationship with Anna

Giraud causes further damage• In desperation, try to get work in Vienna• Died shortly after on July 28, 1741

probably from asthmatic bronchitis• Modest burial

The Four Seasons Composition History

About the Music Premiered in 1725 in

Amsterdam Pictorial One concerto for

each season, accompanied by a poem

Each concerto has three movements – fast, slow, fast

PoemsSummer A goat herder running from a

violent stormWinter People trying to survive the harsh winds

and cold temperatures

Music for everyone Very popular because accessible to

ordinary people, not just musical intellectuals

Written music simple, encourages professionals to embellish

Contains technical exercises for his pupils

Vivaldi himself violin virtuoso

The violin in the spotlight Introduced the violin as a solo

instrument Before considered only part of ensemble Solo violin has been classical favorite

ever since

Forgotten after death 1926 - Manuscripts rediscovered in

Italian school archives Dr. Alberto Gentili put in charge Wealthy Italian donated papers to

library World War II delays project Finally performed in London in 1951

Vivaldi rediscovered

The Four SeasonsListening Guide for Summer and Winter

SUMMERThird movement 0:11 Series of quick descending scales –

falling sheets of rain 0:46 Incredible violin solo – other stings

are silent to bring all focus to the talented soloist

2:15 Final fortissimo arch from the strings, ending in unison like a declaration of authority

WINTERFirst movement

0:00 Dissonant sounds in minor chord with staccatos – hostility of winter cold

0:46 Solo violin and strings take turns. Solo ends in dissonant trill to fade into strings

1:32 Quick scales by solo violin, perhaps exercise for pupils – shivering, chattering teeth

3:08 Motif returns of slow, quick quick, slow. Great timbre. Although in minor, sounds cheerful

WINTERSecond Movement 0:00 Mood immediately different than 1st

movement – fluid, simple, pleasant 0:32 Trill – throughout the movement, to

decorate the simple melody 0:54 Trill starts slow and speeds up,

dissonance resolved on lower note 1:40 Phrase is stated, then repeated with

embellishments like trills 2:01 Ends with long lazy trill

WINTERThird movement

0:21 Inverted arches from violins, like swirling wind and snow

1:36 Solo violin plays broken chords from highest to lowest, with chords ascending up the scale

2:30 Solo and strings battle, one dominating each measure in forte, mimicking each other

3:03 Last measures slow to highlight dissonance, then homophonic resolution of last chord

BIBLIOGRAPHY“Antonio Vivaldi.” Baroque Music. Arton. Oct 2011 <http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxvivaldi.html>

“Antonio Vivaldi and the Four Seasons.” Baroque Music. Arton. Oct 2011 <http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxvivaldi2.html>“Antonio Vivaldi and the Four Seasons.” ClassicalNotes.Net. Peter Gutman. Oct 2011 <http://www.classicalnotes.net/classics/vivaldi.html>

“Antonio Vivaldi – Baroque Composer.” Essortment. Demand Media. Oct 2011 <http://www.essortment.com/antonio-vivaldi-baroque-composer-35216.html>

“Antonio Vivaldi – Biography.” Last FM. Interactive CBS Music Group. Oct 2011 <http://www.last.fm/music/Antonio+Vivaldi>

“Antonio Vivaldi – The Red Priest.” Tel Asiado Suite 101. Music Suite 101. Oct 2011 <http://telasiado.suite101.com/antonio-vivaldi-the-four-seasons-a19469>

Bibliography cont.“Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741).” Classical Archives. All Music Guide. Oct 2011 <http://www.classicalarchives.com/composer/3521.html#tvf=tracks&tv=about>

“Vivaldi.” Classical.net. Classical.net. Oct 2011 <http://classical.net/music/comp.lst/vivaldi.php>

“Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.” Angel Queen. Angel Queen. Oct 2011. <http://angelqueen.org/articles/08_05_vivaldi_four_seasons.shtml>

“Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: Notes, Historical Information, Sonnets.” Classical Music – About.com. About.com. Oct 2011 <http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/baroqueperiod/ss/fourseasons.htm>

“Vivaldi – His Music ‘Rediscovered.’” Baroque Music. Arton. Oct 2011 <http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxvivaldi2.html.