Download Antonio Vivaldi

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Born March 4, 1678
Venice, Italy
Died July 28, 1741
Vienna, Austria
Nicknamed “The Red
Priest”
Heavily influenced by
Bach
Baroque Composer
Known for composing
instrumental concertos
(mainly violin), sacred
choral works, and over
forty operas.
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Baptized immediately after being born due to
either poor health or an earthquake.
His father, Giovanni Battista, taught him how
to play the violin and they also toured Venice
together.
He was ordained a priest at the age of 25, but
not too long after was relieved of his duty to
preform Mass. He was diagnosed with
tightness of the chest and was believed to be
a form of asthma.
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Also at 25 Vivaldi became Maestro di Violino at the
orphanage Pio Ospedale della Pietà in Venice.
While there he wrote many of his most famous works.
In 1717 he was appointed to Maestro di Cappella of the
court of prince Philip of Hesse-Darmstadt, governor of
Mantua. He composed several operas during the three
years he was there.
By 1722 pope Benedict XIII invited Vivaldi to play for
him.
During this period of his life that he composed his
most famous set of concertos The Four Seasons.
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Emperor Charles VI enjoyed Vivaldi’s music so
much that he knighted him and invited him to
come to Vienna and work for him.
Shortly after he arrived in Vienna, Charles VI died
which left Vivaldi without a job and no means of
making money.
Soon after Vivaldi died with an internal infection.
His funeral had no music and was the lowest
class of burials.
Like a lot of the famous composers before him,
he lived his last years in poverty.
Composed in 1715, for
the choir of the
Ospedale della Pietà.
 This is his most famous
sacred choral piece.
 Performed in twelve
cantata-like sections.
 Was written for the
marriage of Louis XV.
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Listen for uplifting melodies and rhythms,
joyous chorus, octave leaps, and repeated
note patterns.
The key is D major.
Performing forces: Mixed Chorus , Oboe,
Trumpet, Strings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkTADIs
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Translates to “The
Goldfinch” which is the
European song bird
that inspired Vivaldi to
compose this piece.
 His set of flute
concertos were nearly
the first set ever
published.
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Listen for imitation of bird-calls, repeated
notes, flute trills, and dotted rhythms.
Key is D major
Performing forces: solo flute, strings and
continuo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS2nXxN
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