Antonio Vivaldi

Grade 11 Music History

Miss Julie De Brita
Antonio Vivaldi - (1678-1748)
Vivaldi was born on
March 4, 1678 in
Venice, Italy.
Ordained for
priesthood in 1703
but ceased to say
Mass due to health
issues.
 The Childhood and Teenage Years
of Antonio Vivaldi
Vivaldi was taught at violin at a young age by
his father, Giovanni Battista Vivaldi.
Antonio Vivaldi was the oldest of nine children
Father and son toured Venice together playing
the violin.
Entered priesthood in 1693 but left in 1706 due
to asthma (some say it was his interest and
musical aspirations that lead to his withdrawal
from the church).

http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/classicalcomposers/p/vivaldi.htm
 The Early Adult Years of Antonio
Vivaldi
1703, Vivaldi became maestro di violino at the
Pio Ospedale della Piet, a home for orphaned,
abandoned, and indigent children.
The Piet specialized in the teaching of music to
girls.
Vivaldi was in charge of teaching the music,
taking care of the instruments, and aquiring new
ones.
 The Mid Adult Years of Antonio
Vivaldi
Vivaldi was promoted to maestro de concert in
1716.
It was during these years the Vivaldi wrote much
of his music, including many operas and
concertos.
Vivaldi began to travel in 1718. It as during this
time that he wrote his music.
Piet paid him to write two concertos a month
for the orchestra and to rehearse with the
orchestra atleast four times when in Venice.
 The Late Adult Years of Antonio
Vivaldi
Vivaldi spent most of his later years
traveling extensively, working on and off
with Piet.
Early Works by Vivaldi
Vivaldi soon became popular after leaving the
church due to the first publications of his
compositions.
His earliest works include trio sonatas, written in
1703-1705.
Violin sonatas soon followed in publication in
1709.
His reputation grew dramatically after his violin
sonatas and especially after his 12 concertos
lEstro armonico (Harmonic Inspiration) op.3 in
1711.
http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/vivaldi.html
More Works by Vivaldi

Oratorio
Moyses Deus Pharaonis, RV 643 - 1714
Juditha triumphans devicta Holofernes
barbarie, RV 644 - 1716
L'adorazione delli tre re magi al bambino Ges
nella capanna di Betlemme, RV 645 - 1722
La vittoria navale predetta dal S Pontefice Pio V
Ghisilieri, RV 782 - 1713
More Works by Vivaldi

Opera
Ottone in villa, RV 729 - 1713
Orlando finto pazzo, RV 727 - 1714
La verit in cimento, RV 739 - 1720
Siroe, re di Persia, RV 735 - 1727
Rosilena ed Oronta, RV 720 - 1728
La fida ninfa, RV 714 - 1732
More Works by Vivaldi

Solo Concerto
"La Primavera" (The Four Seasons), op. 8 no. 1,
RV 269 - E Major
"Il favorito", op. 11 no. 2, RV 277 - e minor
"Il corneto da posta", RV 363 - B flat Major
"L'autunno", op. 8 no. 3, RV 293 - F Major
 The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni) was written
in 1723, said to be Vivaldis best-known work and is
among the most popular pieces of Baroque Music.
The concertos were first published in 1725 as a part of
twelve.
Each season has three parts, fast-slow-fast.
The seasons each have their different textures used to
depict the different seasons.
Vivaldi wrote four sonnets that are to be read with the
four concertos.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Four_Seasons_(Vivaldi)
 Spring
Allegro
Springtime is upon us.
The birds celebrate her return with festive song,
and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes.
Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over
heaven,
Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs
once more.

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

Allegro
Led by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes, nymphs and shepherds lightly
dance beneath the brilliant canopy of spring.
 Summer
Allegro non molto
Under a hard Season, fired up by the Sun
Languishes man, languishes the flock and burns the pine
We hear the cuckoo's voice; then sweet songs of the turtledove and finch are heard.
Soft breezes stir the air... but threatening north wind sweeps them suddenly aside.
The shepherd trembles, fearing violent storms and his fate.

Adagio e piano - Presto e forte

The fear of lightning and fierce thunder
Robs his tired limbs of rest
As gnats and flies buzz furiously around.

Presto
Alas, his fears were justified
The Heavens thunders and roar and majestically
Cuts the head off the wheat and damages the grain.
 Autumn
Allegro
Celebrates the peasant, with songs and dances,
The pleasure of a bountiful harvest.
And fired up by Bacchus' liquor, many end their revelry in sleep.

Adagio molto
Everyone is made to forget their cares and to sing and dance
By the air which is tempered with pleasure
And (by) the season that invites so many, many
Out of their sweetest slumber to fine enjoyment

Allegro
The hunters emerge at the new dawn,
And with horns and dogs and guns depart upon their hunting
The beast flees and they follow its trail;
Terrified and tired of the great noise
Of guns and dogs, the beast, wounded, threatens
Languidly to flee, but harried, dies.
 Winter
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
To rest contentedly beside the hearth, while those outside are drenched by
pouring rain.

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

Vivaldi was said to be the inventor of the

Ritornello Form.
Ritornello Form is an instrumental
interlude during early 17th century opera.
Antonio Vivaldi

Vivaldi died on July 28, 1741, while on a

trip to Vienna.
He was given a paupers burial.
Reference Slide

http://www.answers.com/topic/ritornello?cat=en
tertainment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Four_Seasons_
(Vivaldi)
http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/classicalcom
posers/p/vivaldi.htm
http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/vivaldi.html
http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxvivaldi.html