Page 97 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

BAROQUE 1600–1750 95

See also: C.P.E. Bach’s Flute Concerto in A major 120–121 ■ Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor 179 ■
Ravel’s Piano Concerto in D for the Left Hand 266–267

and the parts played by the larger helped to change the course of
ensemble, as if two voices were musical history. Yet he was never
being heard simultaneously within a revolutionary. Instead, he took
the same piece. These were the existing trends and modified them,
foundations upon which Vivaldi creating a new musical language
built his body of work. that exhilarated both musicians He can compose a
Slightly younger than Albinoni, and contemporary audiences. Many concerto more quickly
his fellow Venetian, Vivaldi wrote his of his borrowings were from opera, than a copyist can write.
first known concertos when he was another genre that found new life in Charles de Brosses
in his mid-20s. Overall, during the the Baroque period and with which French scholar and politician
next 40 or so years, he would write Vivaldi was heavily involved as a
around 500 concertos, many of composer. Following in Albinoni’s
which were published in collections footsteps, he took the basic fast-
such as Il cimento dell’armonia e slow-fast structure of the operatic
dell’inventione. Others were sold overture and transformed it into
in manuscript—a form that the the standard three-movement
commercially minded Vivaldi found structure of the concerto: a fast or musical idea played, repeated,
was more profitable. Of these first movement, filled with musical and modified over the course of
concertos, more than 200 were for action as solo and ensemble the movement by the orchestra.
solo violin; Vivaldi himself was a sections alternate with one another, Typically in Vivaldi’s work,
renowned and flamboyant violinist. followed by a slow, more meditative a fast movement starts with the
Others were for solo bassoon, cello, middle movement, succeeded by orchestra making a full statement
flute, oboe, mandolin, and recorder. a renewed burst of activity in the of the ritornello. This gives way to a
Vivali wrote nearly 50 double final movement. solo section, in which the musician
concertos (composed for two solo merely receives background
instruments), along with other The ritornello accompaniment from the orchestra.
variations, including one concerto Within the fast movements, Vivaldi The full orchestra then returns,
that included solo parts for 16 borrowed the key structuring restating part of the ritornello in
different instruments. Through device from opera—he used the a new key. Ritornello and solo
his astonishing oeuvre, Vivaldi ritornello (“little return”), a refrain sections then alternate, typically ❯❯

Antonio Vivaldi Vivaldi was born in 1678, the son other concertos, as well as
of a violinist in the orchestra of some 50 operas and numerous
St. Mark’s in Venice. He initially religious vocal works, sonatas,
trained for the priesthood and and cantatas. His popularity
was ordained in 1703, but he soon had declined by the late 1730s.
ceased to practice as a priest. His He died in Vienna in 1741,
break as a musician came when while trying to restore his
he was appointed violin master fortunes, and was buried in
at Venice’s Ospedale della Pietà. a pauper’s grave.
Vivaldi’s first published
collection of concertos, L’estro Other key works
armonico (“Harmonic Inspiration”),
printed in 1711, made his name 1711 L’estro armonico, Op. 3
internationally known, especially 1714 La stravaganza, Op. 4
in Germany, where the young J.S. 1725 Il cimento dell’armonia e
Bach was one of its admirers. He dell’inventione, Op. 8
went on to compose hundreds of 1727 La cetra, Op. 9

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