Antonio Vivaldi

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Covered Topics

• Musical Background

• A Star Is Born

• Vivaldi as a Priest

• Ospedale della Pieta

• Collections

• Famous composed works

• “La Primavera,” Sheet Music

• Famous composed works continued

• Vivaldi’s Death

•Works Cited

Musical Background

Cantata- a choral composition, either sacred and resembling a short oratorio or secular, as a lyric drama set to music but not to be acted.

Sonata- a composition for one or two instruments, typically in three or four movements in contrasted forms and keys.

Opus- a musical composition. one of the compositions of a composer, usually numbered according to the order of publication.

Concerto- a composition for one or more principal instruments, with orchestral accompaniment, now usually in symphonic form.

• Born March 4, 1678 in Venice, Republic of Venice.

• “Parents were Giovanni Battista Vivaldi and Camilla Calicchio.”

• Giovanni was a professional violinist and taught Antonio to play at a young age.

- It’s believed that he was taught at a young age because of his great musical talents by the age of 24.

• Antonio had bronchial asthma as a child.

-”did not prevent him from learning to play the violin, composing or taking part in musical activities, but it did stop him from playing wind instruments.”

A Star is Born

• Age 15 Vivaldi started studying to become a priest - ordained at the age of 25.

• “In the same year, he was appointed as maestro di violino (master of violin) by the Ospedale della Pieta”

- “Ospedale della Pieta was a charitable religious foundation for the education and upbringing of female orphans.”

• Gained the nickname il Prete Rosso, which meant “The Red Priest,” because of his red hair.

• “Vivaldi's decision to join the priesthood solved the problem of earning a living while he practiced the art which obsessed him.”

Vivaldi as a Priest

Ospedale della Pieta

•Vivaldi is known as a famous composer, but he was also a great violinist.

•While working at Ospedale della Pieta he created his most popular works in thirty years.

• Created over 60 concertos, cantatas and sacred vocal music for the orphans.

-His job eventually led to teaching music theory and composing a concerto for every feast.

-1711 promoted music director and became in charge of all musical activity.

Collections

• 1705 Opus 1 was published.

- “Consisted of 12 sonatas for two violins and basso continuo, in a conventional style.”

• 1709 Opus 2 was published

- Consisted of 12 sonatas for violin and basso continuo.

• 1711 Opus 3 is released.

- Also known as L’Estro Armonico.

-12 Concertos for 1, 2 and 4 violins.

- Dedicated to Grand Prince Ferdinand of Tuscany.

Famous Composed Works

• Wrote four violin concertos that depict scenes from Spring, Summer, Autumn and winter.

- Apart of Vivaldi’s collection 12, Opus 8.

- Inspiration from Mantua, Italian city.

-Spring, “La Primavera,” is Vivaldi’s most popular work.

-Uses high trills and repeated high notes as bird sounds, and other musical aspects to create “Spring Time.”

• 1713 was the first performance of his Opera, Ottone in Villa, at the Garzerie Theater in Vicenza.

- Includes 3 acts.

-All actors were played by women, but there were only 2 female characters.

“La Primavera,” Sheet Music

www.music-scores.com

Famous Composed Works

• “Gloria e Imeneo” was a wedding cantata for the marriage of Louis XV.

• 1727 Opus 9, La Cetra was dedicated to Charles VI.

-All Concertos for Opus 9 were composed for a violin solo, except Concerto number 9, it was made to 2 solo violin’s.

• Over all Vivaldi’s success included:

- nearly 500 concertos, more than 300 are for solo instruments.

- 90 sonatas

- 50 sacred vocal works

- 40 cantatas

- 50 operas, only 16 survive.

Vivaldi’s Death

• July 28, 1741, Vivaldi died at age 63 from “internal Infection.”

• Buried in Vienna at a hospital burial ground.

• Only 3 Portraits of Vivaldi have survived.

- An engraving of Vivladi holding sheet music in 1725.

- An ink sketch from 1723.

- An oil painting that shows Vivaldi’s red hair under the blond wig.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/image:Antonio_Vivaldi.jpg

Works Cited

“Antonio (Lucio) Vivaldi” Classical.com. Web. 15 April 2011. <http://www.classical.com/composer/Antonio_Lucio_Vivaldi>

“Antonio Lucio Vivaldi” Classical.net. Web. 15 April 2011. <http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/vivaldi.php>

“Antonio Vivaldi” Wikipedia. Web. 15 April 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Lucio_Vivaldi>