Vivaldi

BiographyBy Wendy Duke

Born March 4, 1678ComposerPriest ViolinistDied July 28, 1741

Trained to become a priestReceived a free educationOrdained in 1703

Became a teacher in 1703 at Pio Ospedale della pietaTaught on and off from 1703-1940

Published his first works in 1703First operatic production Orlando finto pazzo

1714

Estienne Roger published 12 concertos‘l’Estro armonico’ (Harmonic Inspiration)

1718 Went to MantuaTraveling with his new opera Armida al campo

d’Egitto1720 Went to Rome to perform for Pope

Clement XI

Made a deal to write 140 Concertos in 6 yearsHe wrote The Four Seasons in this timeAlso Storm at Sea, Pleasure, and The Hunt

Wrote over 500 concertos in his lifetime

Click on the picture to hear

Storm at Sea by Vivaldi

He did not write for the intellectual minorityHe wrote his music for all to enjoy

He died in povertyBuried in the least expensive type of grave. Died in Vienna.

Vivaldi’s work regained popularityPieces of The Four Seasons used commercially

Music resurrected by Alfred Casella

Composition History-The Four Seasons

SpringMovements I, II, and III

AutumnMovement I

Bach was influenced by VivaldiHe liked his concertos and arias

The Four Seasons was written in 1723Published in 1725First recorded in 1942Second recording by Louis Kaufman in 1947Over 1,000 recordings since

The Four Seasons has been used in moviesTin CupSpy GameA View to KillWhat Lies BeneathWhite ChicksThe Other Sister

and more.

Listening GuideMovements I, II, & III

Click on picture

to open music

player window.

0:00-0:24

Spring

0:33-1:56

Birds happily playing

2:19-3:07

End of the first

movement.

Ritornello Form

6:20-6:53

Spring Movement III

7:20-10:17

Spring Movement

III

Listening Guide

Movement I

Click on the

picture to open a

window that will

play the song.

0:00-0:25

Autumn Movement I

0:32-2:04

Autumn Movement I

2:16-3:39

Autumn Movement I

8 Notes. 10 June 2011 <http://www.8notes.com/biographies/vivaldi.asp>.

Encyclopedia of World Biography. 12 June 2011 <http://www.notablebiographies.com/Tu-We/Vivaldi-Antonio.html>.

Green, Aaron. About.com. 10 June 2011 <http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/classicalcomposers/p/antoniovivaldi.htm>.

Gutmann, Peter. Classical Notes. 2004. 13 June 2011 <http://www.classicalnotes.net/classics/vivaldi.html>.

Unknown. Baroque Music. 10 June 2011 <http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxvivaldi.html>.

Zukerman, Pinchas. Arts Alive. 2006. 12 June 2011 <http://artsalive.ca/pdf/mus/tour2004/vivaldi2004_en.pdf>.

Gutmann, Peter. Classical Notes. 2004. 13 June 2011 <http://www.classicalnotes.net/classics/vivaldi.html>.