Post on 24-Feb-2016
description
antonio VIVALDIComposerteacher virtuoso and Baroque extraordinaire
Created by Julia VoyeFerrin MUSC 1010
BIOGRAPHY
Born: Venice March 4, 1678Died: Vienna July 28, 1741
Oldest of 9 children in poor family Taught violin by his father
Trained as a priest Nicknamed “Il Prete Rosso” or The Red
Priest Chronic bronchial asthma
Left the priesthood to write music
Ospedale della Pieta school Esteemed music
school for daughters of noblemen
First teacher, then resident composer
Many concertos are technique exercises
Employed by the school for 25 years
1710Begins publishing music
“L’Estro Armonico” Harmonic Inspiration Very popular and
influential 1713 Opera debut
“Ottone in Villa” 1717 Begins travels Appointed Chamber
Kapellmeister for governor of Mantua
AnnaGIRAUD
• Met in Mantua as a soprano in his opera
• She stayed with him for the rest of his life
• Maintained they were only friends
• Would later cause a scandal
The Four Seasonsandthe popular years
1925 – premiere 8th Opus, including “la Quattro Stagione” or The Four Seasons
Received wild acclaim and success Continue to travel and tour Europe until 1733 Very popular even amongst nobility
“Spring” movement personal favorite of King Louis XIV of France
Turn of fortune and death• Mid 1730’s – decline in popularity and
loss of finances• Scandal about relationship with Anna
Giraud causes further damage• In desperation, try to get work in Vienna• Died shortly after on July 28, 1741
probably from asthmatic bronchitis• Modest burial
The Four Seasons Composition History
About the Music Premiered in 1725 in
Amsterdam Pictorial One concerto for
each season, accompanied by a poem
Each concerto has three movements – fast, slow, fast
PoemsSummer A goat herder running from a
violent stormWinter People trying to survive the harsh winds
and cold temperatures
Music for everyone Very popular because accessible to
ordinary people, not just musical intellectuals
Written music simple, encourages professionals to embellish
Contains technical exercises for his pupils
Vivaldi himself violin virtuoso
The violin in the spotlight Introduced the violin as a solo
instrument Before considered only part of ensemble Solo violin has been classical favorite
ever since
Forgotten after death 1926 - Manuscripts rediscovered in
Italian school archives Dr. Alberto Gentili put in charge Wealthy Italian donated papers to
library World War II delays project Finally performed in London in 1951
Vivaldi rediscovered
The Four SeasonsListening Guide for Summer and Winter
SUMMERThird movement 0:11 Series of quick descending scales –
falling sheets of rain 0:46 Incredible violin solo – other stings
are silent to bring all focus to the talented soloist
2:15 Final fortissimo arch from the strings, ending in unison like a declaration of authority
WINTERFirst movement
0:00 Dissonant sounds in minor chord with staccatos – hostility of winter cold
0:46 Solo violin and strings take turns. Solo ends in dissonant trill to fade into strings
1:32 Quick scales by solo violin, perhaps exercise for pupils – shivering, chattering teeth
3:08 Motif returns of slow, quick quick, slow. Great timbre. Although in minor, sounds cheerful
WINTERSecond Movement 0:00 Mood immediately different than 1st
movement – fluid, simple, pleasant 0:32 Trill – throughout the movement, to
decorate the simple melody 0:54 Trill starts slow and speeds up,
dissonance resolved on lower note 1:40 Phrase is stated, then repeated with
embellishments like trills 2:01 Ends with long lazy trill
WINTERThird movement
0:21 Inverted arches from violins, like swirling wind and snow
1:36 Solo violin plays broken chords from highest to lowest, with chords ascending up the scale
2:30 Solo and strings battle, one dominating each measure in forte, mimicking each other
3:03 Last measures slow to highlight dissonance, then homophonic resolution of last chord
BIBLIOGRAPHY“Antonio Vivaldi.” Baroque Music. Arton. Oct 2011 <http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxvivaldi.html>
“Antonio Vivaldi and the Four Seasons.” Baroque Music. Arton. Oct 2011 <http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxvivaldi2.html>“Antonio Vivaldi and the Four Seasons.” ClassicalNotes.Net. Peter Gutman. Oct 2011 <http://www.classicalnotes.net/classics/vivaldi.html>
“Antonio Vivaldi – Baroque Composer.” Essortment. Demand Media. Oct 2011 <http://www.essortment.com/antonio-vivaldi-baroque-composer-35216.html>
“Antonio Vivaldi – Biography.” Last FM. Interactive CBS Music Group. Oct 2011 <http://www.last.fm/music/Antonio+Vivaldi>
“Antonio Vivaldi – The Red Priest.” Tel Asiado Suite 101. Music Suite 101. Oct 2011 <http://telasiado.suite101.com/antonio-vivaldi-the-four-seasons-a19469>
Bibliography cont.“Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741).” Classical Archives. All Music Guide. Oct 2011 <http://www.classicalarchives.com/composer/3521.html#tvf=tracks&tv=about>
“Vivaldi.” Classical.net. Classical.net. Oct 2011 <http://classical.net/music/comp.lst/vivaldi.php>
“Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.” Angel Queen. Angel Queen. Oct 2011. <http://angelqueen.org/articles/08_05_vivaldi_four_seasons.shtml>
“Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: Notes, Historical Information, Sonnets.” Classical Music – About.com. About.com. Oct 2011 <http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/baroqueperiod/ss/fourseasons.htm>
“Vivaldi – His Music ‘Rediscovered.’” Baroque Music. Arton. Oct 2011 <http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxvivaldi2.html.