Vivaldi

 Lesson 1. LO: Exploring Musical Context  of Vivaldi `concerto

Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741) was a leading Italian composer of the Baroque period. He was a contemporary of the great German-born composers J.S. Bach and Handel. Vivaldi was a virtuoso violinist and he would have been the soloist in many of the first performances of his works. He was born in Venice and spent most of his working life there. He wrote church music and more than 40 operas, though he is best known today for his music for string orchestra, including his Four Seasons set of concertos for solo violin and orchestra. 

In 1703 Vivaldi was appointed as violinist at the Ospedale della Pietà, an orphanage in Venice. He eventually became the musical director and worked there on and off for over 30 years. He developed a renowned orchestra for the orphaned girls. It is thought that the orchestra performed in an inner courtyard upstairs behind screens, while the audience of well-to-do Venetians listened below. 

His first two published sets of instrumental music were trio sonatas (works for two violins and continuo). His opus 3 set of 12 concertos, published in Amsterdam in 1711, established his reputation across Europe. Bach arranged several of the concertos, some for harpsichord and orchestra and others for solo organ. 

The opus 3 set was given the name L’Estro Armonico (Harmonic Inspiration). Earlier sets of concertos, such as those of the great Italian master Corelli, had all been for the standard concerto grosso format of a trio sonata group with string orchestra and continuo. This new set helped establish the new idea of the solo violin concerto, but it was also experimental in its instrumentation in other ways. One of the finest is the concerto in B minor for four violins, cello and strings. There are also concertos for two violins and strings, as well as the combination used in concerto no. 11 (see below). 

Task 1: Answer the following questions:

1. Name 2-3 contemporary composers of Vivaldi
2. Which instrument did he play?
3. What kind of pieces did he write?
4. Why Four season are called set of concertos?
5. Where did he live?
6. What is concerto grosso?

Task 2:

From the given list below choose 4 concertos and memorize their musical features. Consider how you can apply these identified musical features when writing an evaluative essay about Vivaldi’s concerto:

Lesson 2 

LO: Analysing the structure and the content of Question 5-6 essays (Vivaldi)

Complete the following tasks:

– Identify and summarize the main points made in the essay. This will help you understand the focus of the essay and how the author supports their argument.

– Break down the essay’s structure. Identify the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.  Note how the author transitions between different ideas.

– Find and evaluate the examples and references used in the essay. Consider how these examples support the author’s statements and whether they effectively illustrate the points being made.

– Assess how the author incorporates technical terms related to Baroque music (e.g., “Concerto Grosso,” “ripieno,” “concertino”). Discuss how these terms contribute to the essay’s credibility and clarity.

– Write an essay “Discuss how the exerpt is characteristic of its date about (1700)the genre, sonority, texture and harmony using a similar structure and style”. Incorporate musical terminology and provide specific examples to support the analysis.

– Explore how the characteristics mentioned in the essay differ from those of other musical periods (e.g., Romantic). Ask them to write a short paragraph comparing and contrasting the Baroque characteristics with Romantic.

Homework: Vivaldi and Schumann revision questions

1. Discuss the characteristics of the Concerto Grosso form in Vivaldi’s Concerto in D minor. How does the instrumentation contribute to this form?

2. Analyze the use of contrasts in Vivaldi’s concerto, considering aspects such as texture, tempo, and dynamics. Provide specific examples from the composition.

3. Compare the opening movement of Vivaldi’s Concerto in D minor to a Classical or Romantic concerto. What elements distinguish it from these later concerto styles?

4. How does Vivaldi employ sequences and ornamentations in the melodies of the opening section? Discuss their significance within the Baroque period.

5. Explain the role of the ripieno section in Vivaldi’s concerto. How does it interact with the solo instruments, and what is the function of the basso continuo in this context?

Lesson 3. Exam paper revision

Question 4

Lesson Objectives:

1. By looking at the answers, analyze what was missing in your answer and how you can answer similar questions better next time.
2. Look at the score and copy the given points in the answers.
3. Listen to the 4th movement and read/make notes about the structure, bar numbers, tonality, texture etc.

Revision Guide: