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“At the end [of one of his concertos] [Vivaldi] improvised a fantasy which quite confounded me, for such playing has not been heard before and can never be equaled. He played… at an unbelievable speed.” – A description of Vivaldi by a contemporary

Antonio Vivaldi’s reputation is to be taken with a grain of salt. More famous in his day as a violinist than as a composer, Vivaldi and his admirers often “stretched the truth” about Vivaldi’s compositions, claiming that his talent was greater than it actually was. For instance, Vivaldi claimed to have written ninety-four operas, when really less than twenty are known to exist in their entirety. Rumors also abounded among Vivaldi’s fans, including the rumor that Vivaldi could “compose a concerto, with all the parts, with greater dispatch than a copyist can copy it.” Yet despite these “untruths”, Vivaldi was one of the most prolific composers in history and he is considered one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era.

Antonio Vivaldi was born to a barber turned violinist. What inspires a man to go from a barber to a violinist is beyond understanding (perhaps he enjoyed the feeling of his razor sliding back and forth across men’s faces and decided to use the same technique on violin strings). Vivaldi received violin lessons from his father, but was expected to become a priest. Vivaldi, whose passion was for music, was not very enthusiastic about the prospect of joining the priesthood. Even so, Vivaldi was ordained a priest at the age of 25 and, because of his red hair, became known as “The Red Priest”.

Before long, Vivaldi proved to his congregation that his mind was in other places. Once, in the middle of Mass, Vivaldi stopped speaking, stepped down from his pulpit, and ran into a back room so that he could jot down a music stanza before he forgot it. Eventually, Vivaldi stopped saying Mass for good and resigned from the priesthood, complaining that he had chest pains. He then began dedicating his time to doing what he really enjoyed, composing.

During this time, Vivaldi was helping to run a charitable institution for orphaned girls. In this position, Vivaldi taught his students how to play stringed instruments. Vivaldi wrote many of his compositions for his students’ concerts.

Vivaldi composed a large quantity of music at a remarkable pace. His music demonstrates a zeal for life and a remarkable spirit of creativity, as is evident in his four violin concerti titled The Four Seasons. Each of these violin concerti was designed to describe moods and activities of different seasons of the year through colorful orchestration and musical “sound effects”. In addition to descriptive titles for each of the concerti’s movements (individual sections), Vivaldi went the extra mile and also wrote a sonnet for each concerto, which prefaced The Four Seasons music score. The following excerpt from Vivaldi’s “Winter” sonnet demonstrates the same descriptive, witty atmosphere of his music:

Vivaldi’s concertos and sonatas, along with his remarkable operas and sacred music, brought him considerable fame. Vivaldi toured all over Italy, and his reputation soared in nearly every country in Western Europe. However, Vivaldi’s success was not free of controversy. Influential church officials in Italy scoffed at Vivaldi because he refused to fulfill his priestly duty of saying Mass. (I guess they didn’t buy his “chest pain” excuse).

Haunted by Italy’s disdain, Vivaldi decided to leave the country and seek employment in Vienna. However, not long after leaving Italy, Vivaldi died of a gastric infection. Perhaps there was something to the chest pain excuse after all.

Listening to Vivaldi

Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Concerti are no doubt his most famous works. This series of four concerti (Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter) is the most vividly descriptive music written in the entire Baroque era. In Spring, you can clearly hear birds singing and the sudden burst of a spring thunderstorm. In Summer a hailstorm batters the countryside and the hot sun bakes the land. In Autumn, the colors of the leaves and the joy of harvest are evident. The Winter Concerto is especially interesting. The first movement, which describes a winter snow storm, is so fierce and furious that it must have been an equivalent to heavy metal music back in Vivaldi’s day.

Vivaldi Recommendations

Orchestral Music

- L’estro armonico (violin concerti)

- Concerto in D for Guitar and Orchestra

- Concerto in C for Mandolin and Orchestra

- Concerto in C for Two Trumpets and Orchestra

- “La Notte” (“The Night”) Recorder Concerto

The Four Seasons Violin Concerti:

- “Spring” Concerto in E

- “Summer” Concerto in G

- “Autumn” Concerto in F

- “Winter” Concerto in F Minor

Sacred Vocal Music

- Gloria in D


Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) *The Red Priest* “At the end [of one of his concertos] [Vivaldi] improvised a fantasy which quite confounded me, for such playing has not been heard before and can never be equaled. He played… at an unbelievable speed.” – A description of Vivaldi by a contemporary Antonio Vivaldi’s reputation is to be taken with a grain of salt. More famous in his day as a violinist than as a composer, Vivaldi and his admirers often “stretched the truth” about Vivaldi’s compositions, claiming that his talent was greater than it actually was. For instance, Vivaldi claimed to have written ninety-four operas, when really less than twenty are known to exist in their entirety. Rumors also abounded among Vivaldi’s fans, including the rumor that Vivaldi could “compose a concerto, with all the parts, with greater dispatch than a copyist can copy it.” Yet despite these “untruths”, Vivaldi was one of the most prolific composers in history and he is considered one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era. Antonio Vivaldi was born to a barber turned violinist. What inspires a man to go from a barber to a violinist is beyond understanding (perhaps he enjoyed the feeling of his razor sliding back and forth across men’s faces and decided to use the same technique on violin strings). Vivaldi received violin lessons from his father, but was expected to become a priest. Vivaldi, whose passion was for music, was not very enthusiastic about the prospect of joining the priesthood. Even so, Vivaldi was ordained a priest at the age of 25 and, because of his red hair, became known as “The Red Priest”. Before long, Vivaldi proved to his congregation that his mind was in other places. Once, in the middle of Mass, Vivaldi stopped speaking, stepped down from his pulpit, and ran into a back room so that he could jot down a music stanza before he forgot it. Eventually, Vivaldi stopped saying Mass for good and resigned from the priesthood, complaining that he had chest pains. He then began dedicating his time to doing what he really enjoyed, composing. During this time, Vivaldi was helping to run a charitable institution for orphaned girls. In this position, Vivaldi taught his students how to play stringed instruments. Vivaldi wrote many of his compositions for his students’ concerts. Vivaldi composed a large quantity of music at a remarkable pace. His music demonstrates a zeal for life and a remarkable spirit of creativity, as is evident in his four violin concerti titled The Four Seasons. Each of these violin concerti was designed to describe moods and activities of different seasons of the year through colorful orchestration and musical “sound effects”. In addition to descriptive titles for each of the concerti’s movements (individual sections), Vivaldi went the extra mile and also wrote a sonnet for each concerto, which prefaced The Four Seasons music score. The following excerpt from Vivaldi’s “Winter” sonnet demonstrates the same descriptive, witty atmosphere of his music: Frozen and trembling in the ice-cold snow… Slowly walking on ice, one step at a time Fearful and trying not to trip and fall Walking boldly now, then slipping and falling Up again on the ice, going faster and faster The ice at last cracks and breaks into pieces… Such is winter, and yet, what joy it brings. Vivaldi’s concertos and sonatas, along with his remarkable operas and sacred music, brought him considerable fame. Vivaldi toured all over Italy, and his reputation soared in nearly every country in Western Europe. However, Vivaldi’s success was not free of controversy. Influential church officials in Italy scoffed at Vivaldi because he refused to fulfill his priestly duty of saying Mass. (I guess they didn’t buy his “chest pain” excuse). Haunted by Italy’s disdain, Vivaldi decided to leave the country and seek employment in Vienna. However, not long after leaving Italy, Vivaldi died of a gastric infection. Perhaps there was something to the chest pain excuse after all. Listening to Vivaldi Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Concerti are no doubt his most famous works. This series of four concerti (Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter) is the most vividly descriptive music written in the entire Baroque era. In Spring, you can clearly hear birds singing and the sudden burst of a spring thunderstorm. In Summer a hailstorm batters the countryside and the hot sun bakes the land. In Autumn, the colors of the leaves and the joy of harvest are evident. The Winter Concerto is especially interesting. The first movement, which describes a winter snow storm, is so fierce and furious that it must have been an equivalent to heavy metal music back in Vivaldi’s day. Vivaldi Recommendations Orchestral Music - L’estro armonico (violin concerti) - Concerto in D for Guitar and Orchestra - Concerto in C for Mandolin and Orchestra - Concerto in C for Two Trumpets and Orchestra - “La Notte” (“The Night”) Recorder Concerto The Four Seasons Violin Concerti: - “Spring” Concerto in E - “Summer” Concerto in G - “Autumn” Concerto in F - “Winter” Concerto in F Minor Sacred Vocal Music - Gloria in D



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