Delphi Masterworks of Antonio Vivaldi (Illustrated)

By Peter Russell and Antonio Vivaldi

The Italian composer and violinist Antonio Vivaldi left a decisive mark on the form of the concerto, influencing the emerging style of late Baroque music. In spite of his widespread popularity today, Vivaldi was largely forgotten after death and his reputation was only re-established in the 1920’s. Vivaldi’s greatest contribution to the history of classical music was his development of the ritornello form, where recurrent restatements of a refrain alternate with further episodic passages by a solo instrument, allowing for greater depth of virtuosic display. The passion and lyricism of Vivaldi’s music would have a lasting impact on Baroque and Classical-era composers. Delphi’s Great Composers Series offers concise illustrated guides to the life and works of our greatest composers. Analysing the masterworks of each composer, these interactive eBooks include links to popular streaming services, allowing you to listen to the pieces of music you are reading about. Evaluating the masterworks of each composer, you will explore the development of their works, tracing how they changed the course of music history. Whether a classical novice or a cultivated connoisseur, this series offers an intriguing overview of the world’s most famous and iconic compositions. This volume presents Vivaldi’s masterworks in succinct detail, with informative introductions, accompanying illustrations and streaming links. (Version 1)

* Concise and informative overview of Vivaldi’s masterworks
* Learn about the classical pieces that made Vivaldi a celebrated composer
* Links to popular streaming services (free and paid), allowing you to listen to the masterpieces you’re reading about
* Features a special ‘Complete Compositions’ section, with an index of Vivaldi’s complete extant works and links to popular streaming services
* Links to rare works recently rediscovered

Please note: due to the relative recent obscurity of Vivaldi’s reputation, which was only restored in the mid-twentieth century, we are sadly unable to provide our usual range of bonus texts of biographies, critical essays or letters.

CONTENTS:

The Masterworks
Violin Sonata in A Major, Op.2
L’estro armonico, Op.3
La stravaganza, Op.4
Gloria in D Major, RV 589
Oboe Concerto in A Minor, RV 461
Juditha triumphans, RV 644
Tito Manlio, RV 778
The Four Seasons, Op.8
Concerto for 2 Cellos in G Minor, RV 531
Mandolin Concerto in C Major, RV 425
Concerto for Strings in G Major, RV 151
Flute Concerto in G Minor, RV 439
Recorder Concerto in C Major, RV 443
Bassoon Concerto in A Minor, RV 497
Griselda, RV 718
Nulla in mundo pax sincera, RV 630
Dixit Dominus in D Major, RV 594

Complete Compositions
Index of Vivaldi’s Compositions

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Delphi Classics Ltd
• Release date: Nov 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781788779999

Book preview

Antonio Vivaldi

(1678-1741)

Contents

The Masterworks

Violin Sonata in A Major, Op.2

L’estro armonico, Op.3

La stravaganza, Op.4

Gloria in D Major, RV 589

Oboe Concerto in A Minor, RV 461

Juditha triumphans, RV 644

Tito Manlio, RV 778

The Four Seasons, Op.8

Concerto for 2 Cellos in G Minor, RV 531

Mandolin Concerto in C Major, RV 425

Concerto for Strings in G Major, RV 151

Flute Concerto in G Minor, RV 439

Recorder Concerto in C Major, RV 443

Bassoon Concerto in A Minor, RV 497

Griselda, RV 718

Nulla in mundo pax sincera, RV 630

Dixit Dominus in D Major, RV 594

Complete Compositions

Index of Vivaldi’s Compositions

The Delphi Classics Catalogue

© Delphi Classics 2018

Version 1

Delphi Great Composers

Antonio Vivaldi

By Delphi Classics, 2018

COPYRIGHT

Delphi Great Composers - Antonio Vivaldi

First published in the United Kingdom in 2018 by Delphi Classics.

© Delphi Classics, 2018.

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form other than that in which it is published.

ISBN: 978 1 78877 999 9

Delphi Classics

is an imprint of

Delphi Publishing Ltd

Hastings, East Sussex

United Kingdom

Contact: [e-mail]

www.delphiclassics.com

The Masterworks

Venice, Italy — Vivaldi’s birthplace

‘View of San Marco Basin, Venice’ by Gaspar van Wittel, 1697

‘The Grand Canal in Venice from Palazzo Flangini to Campo San Marcuola’ by Canaletto, c. 1738

The Masterworks: A Short Guide

In this section of the eBook there are concise introductions for Antonio Vivaldi’s most celebrated works. Interactive links to popular streaming services are provided at the beginning and end of each introduction, allowing you to listen to the music you are reading about. The text is also accompanied with contextual images to supplement your reading and listening.

There are various options for streaming music, with most paid services charged competitively at the same rate and usually offering a similar range of albums. Various streaming services offer a free trial (Google Play Music, Amazon Music Unlimited and Apple Music) and Spotify offers a free service after you watch a short advertisement. Amazon Prime members can also enjoy a wide range of free content from Amazon Prime Music. If you do not wish to subscribe to a streaming service, we have included YouTube links for free videos of the classical pieces. Another free option is MUSOPEN, a non-profit organisation that provides recordings, sheet music and textbooks to the public for free, without copyright restrictions.

Please note: different eReading devices serve hyperlinks in different ways, which means we cannot always link you directly to your chosen service. However, the links are intended to take you to the best option available for the piece of music you are reading about.

High-resolution scores for the music would be too large in size to include in an eBook; however, we have provided links to free scores available at IMSLP, the International Music Score Library Project, which can be accessed from the SCORES links in each chapter.

Now, settle back and relax as you immerse yourself in the music and life of Vivaldi...

Violin Sonata in A Major, Op.2

AMAZON   APPLE   GOOGLE   MUSOPEN   SPOTIFY   YOUTUBE   SCORES

Antonio Vivaldi, the Italian composer and violinist that would have a major impact on the concerto form and the style of late Baroque instrumental music, was born on 4 March 1678 in Venice, which was at the time the capital of the Venetian Republic. He was baptised immediately after his birth by the midwife, which has led to a belief that his life was likely in danger. One legend tells how the composer was born during an earthquake, providing a suitable prediction of the tempestuous and powerful compositions he would become famous for producing.

His parents were Giovanni Battista Vivaldi, a barber before becoming a professional violinist, and Camilla Calicchio. Antonio was most likely taught at an early age, judging by the extensive musical knowledge he had acquired by the age of 24, when he commenced work at the Ospedale della Pietà. His father was one of the founders of the Sovvegno dei musicisti di Santa Cecilia, an association of musicians. Indeed, he may have been a composer himself, since in 1689 an opera titled La Fedeltà sfortunata was composed by a Giovanni Battista Rossi — the name under which Vivaldi’s father had joined the Sovvegno di Santa Cecilia. It is believed he taught Antonio to play the violin and then toured Venice playing the instrument with his young son. Some historians believe that Vivaldi was also taught by Giovanni Legrenzi, an early Baroque composer and the maestro di cappella at St Mark’s Basilica. Scholars have identified the influence of Legrenzi’s style in Vivaldi’s early liturgical work Laetatus sum (RV Anh 31), written in 1691 at the age of thirteen.

From early childhood, Vivaldi’s health was problematic. He reportedly suffered ‘tightness of the chest’, now believed to be asthma. Nevertheless, this did not prevent him from learning to play the violin, composing or taking part in musical activities, although he was not able to play wind instruments. In 1693, at the age of fifteen, he began studying to become a priest and he was ordained in 1703, at the age of twenty-five and soon earned the sobriquet ‘il Prete Rosso’ (The Red Priest), due to his distinctive red hair, a great family trait. Soon after his ordination, he was given a dispensation from celebrating Mass due to his ill health. In fact, Vivaldi was only able to say Mass in the role of a priest a few times, appearing to later withdraw entirely from liturgical duties, yet he remained formally a member of the priesthood.

Although Vivaldi is now regarded as a famous composer, he was also an exceptional technical violinist as well. By September 1703, he won the position of master of violin at an orphanage called the Pio Ospedale della Pietà (Devout Hospital of Mercy) in Venice. Over the next thirty years he composed most of his major works while working at the orphanage. Financed by funds provided by the Republic, there were four similar institutions in Venice; their purpose was to give shelter and education to children that were abandoned or orphaned, or whose families were unable support them. The boys learned a trade and had to leave when they reached the age of fifteen, while the girls received a musical education, and the most talented among them remained at the Pietà to become members of the Ospedale’s renowned orchestra and choir.

Following his appointment, Vivaldi produced concerti, cantatas and sacred vocal music for the orphans to play and these works soon won appreciation and esteem from further afield. In 1704, the position of teacher of viola all’inglese was added to his duties as violin instructor. Now, Vivaldi had to compose an oratorio or concerto at every feast, while also teaching the orphans both music theory and how to play various instruments. Due to the strain of meeting these commitments, his relationship with the board of directors was often strained. The board had to take a vote every year on whether to retain the services of a teacher and the vote on Vivaldi’s employment was seldom unanimous; in 1709 it even went 7 to 6 against him. However, after a year working as a freelance musician, he was recalled by the Ospedale with a unanimous vote in 1711. No doubt during a year’s absence, the board had realised the importance of this very gifted musician and composer.

The first publication of Vivaldi’s works, Connor Cassara, a collection of 12 sonatas for two violins and basso continuo (a Baroque system of partially improvised accompaniment played on a bass line, usually on a keyboard instrument) in a conventional style, was printed by Giuseppe Sala in 1705, now categorised as his Opus 1.  This was followed in 1709 by a second collection of 12 sonatas for violin and basso continuo, Opus 2. These sonatas are regarded as being among the earliest of his greatest compositions and enjoyed popularity following their publication, as reflected in their subsequent history. The Amsterdam publisher Estienne Roger brought out an attractive

Reviews for Delphi Masterworks of Antonio Vivaldi (Illustrated)

[Oriana Jon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

pengin :3 soalnya bisa di canon print gk ??... :c