VeniceVenice
Venice was founded in CE 421 on April 25th, St.Mark's day (the patron saint of Venice)
The original Basilica St. Mark's was begun in CE 834 but burned down
Marco Polo traveled from Venice to China
Giacomo Casanova was born in 1725 in Venice
VeniceVenice
Why is Venice famous? Exotic mix of natural beauty,
architecture, pageant, and self-importance
– Opera– Film festivals
No individual could be more important than the city
– Doge - chief magistrate - elected for life -Sebastiano Mocenigo (reigned 1722–1732) - Le quattro stagioni was composed in 1725
VeniceVenice
The nobility made the decisions– Clothing– Who could leave the city– No one must discredit the place– No individual could become more important than the
city– They looted and hoarded items to “dress up” the city– Smuggled in the remains of St. Mark– Beggars were expelled unless licensed
The ArsenaleThe Arsenale
The shipbuilding area became one of the first “industrial” areas with 16,000 fixed wage workers in on-site housing, locked there for life
VIVAVIVALDI
VIVAVIVALDI
The most remarkable violinist-composer was Antonio Vivaldi
–Composed more than 450 concertos–40 operas–solo, chamber, and vocal works
Timeline of Vivaldi's LifeTimeline of Vivaldi's Life
•1678 -- born March 4, Venice (day of an earthquake which may have contributed to his aesthmatic condition)•1685-1703 -- Vivaldi studies to become a priest•1703 -- ordained a priest, accepted a position as maestro di violino and chaplain at the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice•1705-1709 -- published works at the Pietà while teaching•1709 -- lost his position as maestro di violino because position was discontinued; continued to compose•1711-1716 -- retained his former position at the Pietà; 1715 -- given special recognition for his composition of vocal works for the Pietà•1716 -- appointed to the position of maestro de' concerti and received a pay increase•1718-1720 -- took his opera to Mantua and stayed•1723 -- asked to compose and direct two new concertos every month for the Pietà, teaching position there is a memory, he travels too much•1724 -- Anna Giraud's debut in Venice•1725-1729 -- works published including six flute concertos, twelve concertos, a serenata, and his opus 9 La cetra•1729-1730 -- in Germany•1731 -- back to Italy•1732-1739 -- travels to Verona, Amsterdam, and Ferrara, where he was forbidden entry by the Cardinal into the city to direct his opera Cantone in Utica•1739 -- opera Feraspe last opera written by Vivaldi; his vocal and instrumental compositions purchased by the Pietà•1740 -- moves to Vienna and tries to make a living unsuccessfully by selling his concertos•1741 -- dies from an internal inflammation and is buried in a pauper's grave
Born Venice, March 4, 1678 Father was barber turned violinist who played
in St. Mark’s orchestra
Antonio also became an outstanding violinist He began religious studies age 15, ordained in
1703– Why?
He was excused from liturgical duties– failed to finish saying Mass
» Why?
Retired from clerical duties 1705
Antonio Vivaldi 1678 - 1741
Known as “the red priest”– Why?
His first known musical activity was in 1696 as an extra violinist at St. Mark’s
Antonio Vivaldi 1678 - 1741
Ospedali (hospitals)Ospedali (hospitals)
Four ospedali were created to gather up all the abandoned or terminally ill children
– A contributing factor being the 20,000 active prostitutes
One of the four Ospedali, the Pieta, for orphaned girls, served the entire city. The remaining three served the shipbuilding (Arsenal) workers
This Ospedale was in fact a home for the female children of noblemen and their mistresses
It was well endowed by the "anonymous" fathers; its furnishings were opulent, the young ladies were well looked-after, and the musical standards among the highest in Venice
The PietaThe Pieta
The girls in the Pieta (up to 6,000) lived in closed communities and were used for lace-making, textile manufacturing, hat production, silk laundry work and domestic work
Staffed by nuns and priests, the school also employed distinguished musicians
The school hoped to find husbands for the girls but many never married and stayed at the school to develop their musical skills
They were provided a superior education The most talented students received training
similar to conservatory studies and many became virtuoso performers
Antonio Vivaldi 1678-1741Antonio Vivaldi 1678-1741
In 1703 Vivaldi was appointed to the faculty of the Ospedale della Pieta and became its music director and conductor in 1716
Concerts were among the premier music events in Venice
Vivaldi began at the Pieta as a violin instructor
– active as a composer– began to cultivate the concerto
The impression he made with his music, his students, and the concerts resulted in his promotion to the post of maestro dei concerti
He achieved international reputation with the publication of L ’estro armonico “The Inspiration of Harmony” (a set of 12 concertos)
Vivaldi’s music became very popular and was even arranged by Bach
Antonio Vivaldi 1678 - 1741
His operas were very popular at the time Vivaldi enjoyed life and money, expensive
clothing, luxurious accommodations, and was the source of scandalous rumors
– He became friends with the singer Anna Giraud and she moved in him
– Italian playwright Carlo Goldoni described Vivaldi and Giraud: » "This priest, an excellent violinist but a mediocre
composer, has trained Miss Giraud to be a singer. She was young, born in Venice, but the daughter of a French wigmaker. She was not beautiful, though she was elegant, small in stature, with beautiful eyes and a fascinating mouth. She had a small voice, but many languages in which to harangue."
Vivaldi stayed together with her until his death.
Antonio Vivaldi 1678 - 1741
Vivaldi traveled extensively, played violin for the Pope, and produced operas at leading theaters
In the 1730’s his operas began to fail* In 1738 his contract with the Pieta was not
renewed In 1740 he resigned and left Venice for Vienna
where he planned to work under the patronage of Charles VI
By his death on July 28, 1741 Anna Giraud returned to Venice, where she died
in 1750 His music fell into obscurity As Vivaldi served no more purpose to the city of
Venice, he was “removed” from its history
Antonio Vivaldi 1678 - 1741
*Opera*Opera
Forbidden Opera– 18th century - Rome - opera was prohibited– Jubilee of 1700 (celebration of a holy year)
» All public entertainment was forbidden– 1701 - a ban on all public performances– 1703 January and February Rome was struck by two
earthquakes. As a sign of thanksgiving, all forms of theatrical performances were outlawed
» Theater brought sin and damnation» The decree of 1588 prohibited women from
appearing on the public stage» Rome became the kingdom of the castrati
– Oratorio flourished
Vivaldi OperaVivaldi Opera
Vivaldi’s “Griselda”– Composed in Venice in 1735 for Anna Giraud– Vivaldi: by Cecilia Bartoli
» Agitated by two winds trembling waves in the turbulent sea and the frightened steersman already awaits to be shipwrecked. By duty and by love this heart is assailed;it cannot resist and seems to give up and begins to despair.
Vivaldi: “Dopo Un'Orrida Procella” also sung by Cecilla Bartoli
In the 19th century a Bach scholar discovered 17 of Bach’s compositions were actually composed by Vivaldi
In 1926 - a Salesian friar from a small monastery discovered 100 volumes of musical scores from the early 18th century
Sold to the Turin Nat. Library to finance repairs
Most by Vivaldi It was the composer’s personal autograph
collection Half of a larger collection - the remaining
located in Genoa This restored Vivaldi to the world
Antonio Vivaldi 1678 - 1741
SummarySummary
Three kinds of musical institutions with which Vivaldi associated:
– The Church, especially St. Mark’s– the “Pieta”– the theater
The Concerto– more than 450 composed
The Baroque period saw the birth of concert music Advances in instrument making - the violin makers
and woodwind makers - gave rise to the orchestra– Italian violin makers
» Nicolo Amati 1596 - 1684» Antonio Stradivari 1644 - 1737» Giuseppe Bartolomeo Guarneri 1698 - 1744
– oboe, bassoon, transverse flute
The Four SeasonsThe Four Seasons
The concertos– fast - slow - fast– ritornello– virtuoso passages featuring his solo instrument– expressive arias for solo instrument
The concerto is the perfect form for technical display
Vivaldi published six major collections, four have programmatic titles
“The Four Seasons” is the best-known set– pub. 1725 as part of a collection of 12 concertos known
as “The Contest Between Harmony and Invention”– “program” music
Vivaldi also provided a detailed written program
Vivaldi: “The Four Seasons”–Concerto No. 1 in E “La primavera
”
–Concerto No. 2 in G minor “L ’estate”
–Concerto No. 3 in F “L ’autunno”
–Concerto No. 4 in F minor “L ’inverno”
La primavera (Spring)La primavera (Spring)
Concerto No. 1 in E “La primavera” I. Spring has come and joyfully
the birds welcome it with cheerful song,and the streams at the breath of zephyrsflow swiftly with sweet murmurings.
But now the sky is cloaked in blackand thunder and lightning announce themselves;when they die away, the little birdsturn afresh to their sweet song.
La primavera (Spring)La primavera (Spring)
II. Then on the pleasant flower-strewn meadow,to the gentle rustle of the leaves and branches,the goatherd rests, his faithful dog at his side
Kennedy
Loussier
Venice Baroque Orchestra
La primavera (Spring)La primavera (Spring)
III. To the rustic bagpipe’s gay sound,nymph and shepherd dance beneaththe fair spring sky in all its glory.
CriticismCriticism
“Vivaldi played a solo accompaniment. . . But I cannot say it pleased me, for it was not so pleasant to listen to as it was skillfully performed.”
– Johann von Uffenbach, 1715
TerminologyTerminology
Concerto Opera Chamber music Conservatory Transcription
10 things to know about Vivaldi
10 things to know about Vivaldi
1. Born the son of a professional violinist in Venice in 1678, he was the oldest of nine children.
2. He battled acute bronchial asthma throughout his life.
3. He trained to be a priest for three years, and was ordained at the age of 25 in 1703. During these years Antonio Vivaldi was taught to play violin by his father. His earliest known performance was in 1696.
4. Following his ordination, he put an end to saying Mass, claiming his chest was too tight due to his asthma, although many believed he quit because he was forced to become a priest against his wishes.
5. The composer was given the nickname "Il Prete Rosso" which means "Red Priest", due to his red hair.
10 things to know about Vivaldi
10 things to know about Vivaldi
6. During his life, the prolific Vivaldi wrote around 500 concertos, along with a wealth of opera and religious-themed pieces.
7. Composed in 1723, The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni), is undoubtedly his most famous piece of work. A set of four violin concertos, each section was composed to resemble its respective season.
8. While something of a musical genius, he was also said to be somewhat cocky. He once claimed he could compose a concerto in all its parts faster than it could be copied.
9. Most of Vivaldi's music was lost. The majority of what we have of his work today was discovered in the 1920's, packed away in a trunk.
10. Like Mozart, Vivaldi died in poverty in 1741, and was buried in an unmarked grave.
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