Vivaldi Flashcards
When and where was Vivaldi born?
1678, Venice, Italy
What caused Vivaldi to be meant for Priesthood?
A huge earthquake on the day of his birth and his mother worrying about his health
Who was Vivaldi’s first music teacher?
His father, a professional violinist
What happened in Vivaldi’s teenage years?
He studied to become a priest, improved his music skills, and became an excellent violinist
What year did Vivaldi become a Priest?
1703, at age 25
What happened to Vivaldi’s priesting career?
He withdrew due to ill health
What was Vivaldi’s orphanage and why was it significant?
His orphanage, the Pio Ospedale della Pietà (Devout Hospital of Mercy) was an orphanage that taught girls music and had a famed choir. He taught them music and with access to the orchestra, he could further develop his musical ideas. He was soon promoted to musical director and during the 30 years where he worked there, he composed most of his major works
Did Antonio Vivaldi have access to high quality instruments?
Yes, with nearby Cremona housing many famous fine instrument makers such as Antonio Stradavari
When did Vivaldi die and was he rich or poor?
He died in 1741 at the age of 63 and was impoverished due to an Emperor dying before he could compose for him, leaving him with no reliable source of income
Where did Vivaldi compose the 4 seasons and what inspired it?
Mantua, and the changing countryside around it
What is the structure of Spring?
It is a concerto in Ritornello form, and it depicts a sonnet about spring, with each part depicting a line in the poem
What was Vivaldi’s musical style?
He was a virtuoso violinist, and exploited string virtuosity when composing his concertos and operas
What contributions did Vivaldi make to music?
He contributed to the development of the three-movement concerto and was a leader in establishing ritornello form
