1. Music Through the Ages
Tuesday, January 26th

2. Antonio Vivaldi Born in 1678 and died in 1741
Italian born composer, spent most of his career in Venice
For most of his career, , Vivaldi worked at the Pio Ospedale della Pietá. The Pietá, for all intensive purposes, was an orphanage at this time. This particular one had a significant music program which Vivaldi led.
Known for writing many Concerto’s, especially the violin along with other instruments.
Sacred choral works and more than forty operas.
Best known work is The Four Seasons

3. Vivaldi’s Early Years
As a child, Vivaldi was exceptional at playing the violin
Vivaldi’s first teacher was his father, Giovanni Battista a barber
Vivaldi suffered from what we know today as asthma or strettezza di petto (tightness of the chest) This hindered Vivaldi’s ability to play instruments but did not limit him as a violinist or composer
In 1693, Vivaldi began studying to become a priest and was ordained in and was eloquently nicknamed il Prete Rosso (The Red Priest)

4. Works by Vivaldi Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 6, No. 3
Opening ritornello, followed by 1st episode, back to ritornello, episode 2, etc.
Vivaldi “Gloria”
Composed during his time at Pietá
Consists of 12 movements for choir and orchestra

5. Mantua
In 1718, Vivaldi was offered the position of Maestro di Cappella in the court of Phillip of Hesse-Darmstadt, governor of Mantua
Here, Vivaldi began developing his operatic style further and also performed for Pope Benedict XIII in 1722
It was during his years in Mantua that Vivaldi created probably his most popular pieces, the Four Seasons

6. Terms to know Concerto – A piece for a soloist and orchestra.
Concerto grosso – A multi-movement baroque piece for a group of soloists (concertino) and an orchestra (ripieno).
Concertino – A short concerto or the group of soloists in a concerto grosso.
Ripieno – In a concerto grosso, the full orchestra, as opposed to the concertino.
Ritornello Form – The return to the tutti (full orchestra) in a baroque concerto.

7. The Four Seasons
A collection of pieces composed in 1720 and is considered to be Vivaldi’s best known works. They were said to have been written in collaboration with four sonnets, but there is no record of what they were.
Each of the following concerto’s is divided into 3 movements.
Concerto No. 1 in E major (SPRING) Allegro, Largo, Allegro
Concerto No. 2 in G minor (SUMMER) Allegro non molto, Adagio e piano, Presto
Concerto No. 3 in F major (AUTUMN) Allegro, Adagio molto, Allegro
Concerto No. 4 in F minor (WINTER) Allegro non molto, Largo, Allegro