2. ANTONIO VIVALDI
ivaldi was born on March 4,
1678 in Venice, Italy.
rdained for priesthood in
1703 but ceased to say Mass
due to health issues.
3. CHILDHOOD
ivaldi was taught at violin at a young age by his
father, Giovanni Battista Vivaldi.
ntonio Vivaldi was the oldest of nine children
ather and son toured Venice together playing the
violin.
ntered 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).
4. ADULTHOOD
703, Vivaldi became maestro di violino at the Pio
Ospedale della Pietà, a home for orphaned, abandoned,
and indigent girls.
he Pietà specialized in the teaching of music to girls.
ivaldi was in charge of teaching the music, taking care of
the instruments, and acquiring new ones.
5. LATER YEARS
ivaldi was promoted to maestro de’ concert in
1716.
t was during these years the Vivaldi wrote much
of his music, including many operas and
concertos.
ivaldi began to travel in 1718. It as during this
time that he wrote his music.
ietà paid him to write two concerto’s a month
for the orchestra and to rehearse with the
orchestra at least four times when in Venice.
6. EARLY WORKS BY VIVALDI
ivaldi soon became popular after leaving the
church due to the first publications of his
compositions.
is earliest works include trio sonatas, written in
1703-1705.
iolin sonatas soon followed in publication in
1709.
is reputation grew dramatically after his violin
sonatas and especially after his 12 concertos
l’Estro armonico (Harmonic Inspiration) op.3 in
1711.
7. MORE WORKS BY VIVALDI
ratorio
• Moyses Deus Pharaonis, RV 643 - 1714
• Juditha triumphans devicta Holofernes barbarie,
RV 644 - 1716
• L'adorazione delli tre re magi al bambino Gesù
nella capanna di Betlemme, RV 645 - 1722
• La vittoria navale predetta dal S Pontefice Pio V
Ghisilieri, RV 782 - 1713
8. MORE WORKS BY VIVALDI
pera
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ottone in villa, RV 729 - 1713
Orlando finto pazzo, RV 727 - 1714
La verità in cimento, RV 739 - 1720
Siroe, re di Persia, RV 735 - 1727
Rosilena ed Oronta, RV 720 - 1728
La fida ninfa, RV 714 - 1732
9. MORE WORKS BY VIVALDI
olo Concertos
• "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
10. “THE FOUR SEASONS”
The Four Seasons” (“Le quattro stagioni”) was written in
1723, said to be Vivaldi’s best-known work and is among
the most popular pieces of Baroque Music.
he concertos were first published in 1725 as a part of
twelve.
ach “season” has three parts, fast-slow-fast.
he 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.
11. “SPRING”
SPRING
llegro
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.
argo
On the flower-strewn meadow, with leafy branches rustling overhead, the
goat-herd sleeps, his faithful dog beside him.
llegro
Led by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes, nymphs and shepherds
lightly dance beneath the brilliant canopy of spring.
12. “SUMMER”
SUMME
R
llegro 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.
dagio 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.
resto
Alas, his fears were justified
The Heavens thunders and roar and majestically
Cuts the head off the wheat and damages the grain.
13. “AUTUMN”
llegro
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.
dagio 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
llegro
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.
AUTUMN
14. “WINTER”
WINTER
llegro 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.
argo
To rest contentedly beside the hearth, while those outside are drenched by
pouring rain.
llegro
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.
15. RITORNELLO FORM
ivaldi was said to be the inventor of the Ritornello Form.
itornello Form is an instrumental interlude during early 17th century
opera.
16. “GLORIA”
Most famous sacred work by Vivaldi
11 movements in contrasting tempos
Multiple textures, melodies & rhythms
For chorus, orchestra & soloists
Great example of late Baroque sacred
music
GLORIA
