- What Is Antonio Vivaldi Famous For
- Antonio Vivaldi Best Known For
- Antonio Vivaldi Bio
- What Is Antonio Vivaldi Known For
- What Is Antonio Vivaldi Best Known For
- Best Of Vivaldi Youtube
Vivaldi is seldom underestimated by many and for this reason I have compiled a short list of his best works. Whilst 'le quattro stagioni' is among the best of his efforts in the Ryom-Verzeichnis it is overexposed - much like Bach's third Brandenburg Concerto. This is not a definitive list and is entirely subjective. It's purpose is to bring to light some of Vivaldi's best vocal and instrumental works not popularized by the media.
Many listeners must have discovered how much easier it is to mistake one Vivaldi composition for another than to identify its composer wrongly. To say this is neither to endorse Stravinsky’s supercilious observation, inherited from Dallapiccola, that Vivaldi could ‘compose the same form so many times over’ nor to make an obvious deduction from the fact that he borrowed copiously from his own works but sparingly from those of other composers. Even by the standards of his age, when plagiarism from other composers was frequently castigated by critics but self-borrowing raised hardly a murmur, his style remained remarkably constant.
He was not one of those composers like Caldara and Lotti who could write in a ‘strict’ style for the church and a ‘free’ style for the theatre. Try as he might on occasion to compose in the learned style, the French style or even the bel canto style, Vivaldi proved (perhaps fortunately) a bad imitator incapable of suppressing his individuality. It was in fact his ndividuality that attracted attention from composers outside of Europe i.e. Bach. It was in Weimar that Bach transcribed three concertos by Vivaldi for solo organ based on
two concertos from L’estro armonico: No. 8 (RV 522, for 2 violins and strings, in A minor(B minor)) No 11.
Vivaldi's own work:
Here we have the hybrid synergy of High German and Italian styles in all of it's opulence and majesty by Bach:
It would be a mistake to equate counterpoint with specific contrapuntal devices such as ostinato or imitation, which are certainly less evident in Vivaldi’s music, taken as a whole, than in that of Corelli, Couperin, Purcell or Bach. As a contrapuntist Vivaldi achieves excellence when he brings together two or three lines of contrasted melodic and rhythmic character. He has a gift for fresh – which is to say unusual – part-writing, so that even a viola part (in Italian music, generally a receptacle for the harmonic leavings of the other parts) may sparkle.
Even more than Bach, he likes to ‘drop’ his leading-notes when he can thereby obtain an interesting melodic line or effective spacing of the parts.Nevertheless, his part-writing is not beyond criticism. His liking for parallel movement in several parts, including the bass, often brings him perilously close to consecutive fifths or octaves.
The type of passage which once embroiled Corelli in an acrimonious dispute with critics in Bologna occurs again and again in Vivaldi’s compositions. Perhaps it was to this shortcoming (in the eyes of contemporaries) that Goldoni alluded when he wrote: ‘However much connoisseurs claimed that he [Vivaldi] was deficient in counterpoint and did not compose basses correctly, he made his parts sing nicely’
That being said, fluent contrapuntist though he was when working with three or four parts, Vivaldi seems distinctly uncomfortable when their number rises; the seven real contrapuntal parts (one short of the theoretical maximum, there being eight vocal parts) in the ‘Sicut erat in principio’ fugue of the Dixit Dominus RV 594 take him to the limit of his ability and is thus deemed his greatest contrapuntal effort:
https://soundcloud.com/user305636706...alm-109-rv-594
Vivaldi’s approach to modulation is characteristically personal. He is apt to short-circuit the normal process of modulation, establishing a new key via its mediant, subdominant, submediant or leading-note chord rather than the conventional dominant. The listener is jerked, not smoothly carried, into the new key. Even when the dominant is the point of entry, it may arrive quite suddenly and entail the chromatic alteration of several notes.
The range of keys visited in the course of a movement is rarely exceptional for the period, though some minor-key movements wander considerable distances up and down the circle of fifths. One of Vivaldi’s boldest and most convincing tonal designs occurs in the ‘Et in terra pax’ of the Gloria RV 589. The transition from C minor to B minor is effected by an ingenious piece of enharmonic punning: the ringed bass note F, apparently a dominant seventh in C minor, resolves upwards to F sharp as if it were E sharp, root of a ‘German sixth’ chord.
His use of pizzicato is more often selective than general, however, being found predominantly in bass parts. He does not lack ingenuity: the aria ‘Sento in seno ch’in pioggia di lagrime’ (I feel in my breast that in a rain of tears) is picturesquely accompanied by a shower of raindrops on the strings (‘tutti pizzicati senza cembalo’) except for three instruments – a first violin, a second violin and a bass – who are instructed to play the same parts with their bows. This work provides an 'ethereal' dimension to his usual style - I interpret this through means of this diagram.
A | B
A represents an observer listening to this piece in this dimension. They would hear strings - no pizzicato.
| separates this dimension with the 'ghostly - ethereal' realm
B is a spectral (ghostly) observer listening to the notes permeate from dimension A to dimension B - all they hear are the remnants of the notes - the pizzicato
Top 10 facts about Antonio Vivaldi
Who is Antonio Vivaldi? He is an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher and cleric, best known as one of the greatest Baroque composers, including his series of violin concertos known as The Four Seasons, and his influence was widespread across Europe. Start studying Baroque Composer - Antonio Vivaldi. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. A fortuitous background indeed, into which Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice on March 4th, 1678. Though ordained a priest in 1703, according to his own account, within a year of being ordained Vivaldi no longer wished to celebrate mass because of physical complaints ('tightness of the chest') which pointed to angina pectoris, asthmatic bronchitis, or a nervous disorder.
Almost 500 concerti by Vivaldi survive. More than 300 are concerti for a solo instrument with string orchestra and continuo. Of these, approximately 230 are written for solo violin, 40 for bassoon, 25 for cello, 15 for oboe, and 10 for flute. There are also concerti for. Antonio Vivaldi is one of the most famous figures in the history of classical music. The Italian composer and famed violinist might be best known for his work The Four Seasons, which is instantly recognizable by so many of us even today.
Antonio Vivaldi was a 17th and 18th-century musician who’s become one of the most famous figures in European classical music.
He was born on March 4, 1678, in Venice, Italy. Vivaldi must have been destined for greatness by virtue of his ground-shaking birth (Literally), a large earthquake occurred in Venice on his birthday.
Antonio Vivaldi was ordained as a priest at birth although he later chose to follow his passion for music. He became a prolific composer who created hundreds of works, became renowned for his concertos in Baroque style, and was a highly influential innovator in form and pattern.
Some facts about this Italian composer
1. Antonio Vivaldi was mentored by his father
Young Antonio was taught to play the violin by his father, Giovanni Battista Vivaldi, a professional violinist who was also a barber. Antonio got to tour Venice with his father while playing the violin together.
Through his father and the tours, Vivaldi met and learned from some of the finest musicians and composers in Venice at the time. While his violin practice flourished, chronic shortness of breath barred him from mastering wind instruments.
2. Antonio Vivaldi went to the monastery
At the age of 15, Antonio began studying to become a priest. He also took music lessons. He was ordained in 1703.
Due to his red hair, Vivaldi was known by the locals as “il Prete Rosso,” or “the Red Priest.” His career in the clergy was short-lived due to health problems that prevented him from delivering mass and drove him to abandon the priesthood shortly after his ordination.
3. Antonio Vivaldi the Maestro di violin
After leaving the priesthood, Vivaldi went to Ospedale della Pietà, an orphanage in Venice where he became the master of the violin.
He was regarded as an exceptional technical violinist as well as a famous composer. He began his career at the orphanage aged 25 and stayed for over three decades composing most of his major work.
The orphanages provided shelter and education to children who were abandoned, orphaned or came from poor families.
Vivaldi taught and mentored the children who began to gain appreciation and praises abroad.
4. Vivaldi had a strained relationship with his workmates
Despite his amazing work and excellent teaching skills that saw most of the children master their musical skills and even joining the Ospedale’s renowned orchestra and choir, his relationship with the board of directors of the Ospedale was often on the rocks.
The board would vote every year to decide whether to keep him as a teacher. They unanimously voted him out once, and only later realized the importance of his role after a year. The recalled him back.
During that time, Vivaldi practised as a freelance musician. He later became responsible for the entire musical activity o the institution when he was called back.
5. Vivaldi took on other jobs other than teaching
What Is Antonio Vivaldi Famous For
In addition to his regular employment, Vivaldi accepted a number of short-term positions funded by patrons in Mantua and Rome.
It was during his term in Mantua, from around 1717 to 1721, that he wrote his four-part masterpiece, The Four Seasons. He paired the pieces with four sonnets, which he may have written himself.
6. Antonio Vivaldi’s secret love life
Vivaldi took up a job offer as a Maestro di Cappella by prince Philip of Hesse-Darmstadt in Mantua. He produced several operas in the three years he was there.
Antonio Vivaldi Best Known For
It was during this time that he was introduced to Anna Tessieri Giro, who became his student and protégée. She later moved in with him and would accompany him on his many travels.
Speculations flew around whether the two were involved in a romantic relationship beyond their friendship.
Vivaldi was quick to deny the speculations in a letter he wrote to his patron Bentivogilo on November 16, 1737.
7. Vivaldi had tough Financial Times
Although he seemed to be a successful and famous musician, he faced financial difficulties like most of his fellow composers at the time.
In his later years, Vivaldi’s compositions were no longer held in high regard as they once were in Venice. This could be as a result of his changing musical tastes that outmoded.
To get himself out of the financial murk, Vivaldi opted to sell a huge number of his manuscripts at low prices to finance his move to Vienna.
8. Vivaldi spent time in Vienna
There is no clear reason as to why he moved to Vienna, but it is believed that after meeting with Emperor Charles VI, he aspired to take up a position as a composer in the imperial court.
Vivaldi also staged operas while in Vienna when he lived near Karntnertor theater.
His new life and career were cut short after Charles VI died, leaving him without royal protection and no steady source of income. Antonio Vivaldi sunk back into bankruptcy.
Antonio Vivaldi Bio
9. Vivaldi died poor
What Is Antonio Vivaldi Known For
Photo by Wendy Scofield on Unsplash
Antonio Vivaldi died a pauper despite his fame. He died on July 28, 1741, aged 63 of an internal infection.
No music was played at his funeral, only the bells at St. Stephen’s Cathedral chimed to note his passing. He was buried in a simple grave in a public hospital cemetery.
What Is Antonio Vivaldi Best Known For
A memorial plaque has been placed on the site that was once his home, which has since been destroyed.
Best Of Vivaldi Youtube
10. Antonio Vivaldi’s life documented
His life has been featured in a 2005 movie, Vivaldi, A Prince of Venice. A radio play was also done for ABC Radio that same year.
The play was later adapted to a stage play titled The Angel and the Red Priest.
Vivaldi’s genius skills and music continue to influence many musicians centuries later. His complete music catalogue was found in 1926 at a boarding school in Piedmont. The music of Vivaldi has been performed widely since World War II. The choral composition Gloria, re-introduced to the public at Casella’s Vivaldi Week, is particularly famous and is performed regularly at Christmas celebrations worldwide. His work includes nearly 500 concertos that have influenced subsequent composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach.