Composer Antonio Vivaldi's 332nd Birthday Today

Gear4Music.com ^ | 03/04/2010 | n/a

[Pyro7480]

Today is the 332nd birthday of revered Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, most famous for his 1723 composition The Four Seasons, a violin 'concerti'.

Vivaldi was writer of nearly 500 concertos of various types, composing at least 50 operas and a plethora of other vocal and instrumental pieces.

His work has been described as one of the strongest influences on the development of modern violin technique, being a primary influence on Johann Sebastian Bach.

While a prolific composer, Vivaldi was also an incredibly talented technical violinist having been trained by his professional violinist father.

In 1703, at the age of 25 Vivaldi was ordained as a priest, having begun his initial training in 1693, aged just 15.

It was this training, alongside his bright red hair, that gave Vivaldi is nickname Il Prete Rosso (The Red Priest).

Like Mozart, Vivaldi died in abject poverty in 1741, being buried in an unmarked grave.

The Italian composer is being honoured by Google in a special Google Doodle on the search engine's homepage....

[Pyro7480]

RV 522, Concerto for two Violins in A minor, Opus 3

[Pyro7480]

Ping!

[Daffynition]

I'll take my Vivaldi on the rocks. ;)

CLICK IMAGE

[OKSooner]

" Vivaldi was writer of nearly 500 concertos of various types "

No, he just wrote the same piece nearly 500 times. :)

[IronJack]

Along with Telemann, one of the exemplars of Baroque composition. As overplayed as The Four Seasons is, it’s still a musical tour-de-force.

[MinuteGal]

"No, he just wrote the same piece nearly 500 times."

Exactly. When I hear Vivaldi on my FM, I turn the sound off.

I don't like Baroque or Barack.

Leni

[sitetest]

Dear Pyro7480,

Thanks for the ping!

Classical Music Ping List ping to one of my absolute favorite composers!

If you want on or off this list, let me know via FR E-MAIL.

Thanks,

sitetest

[oh8eleven]

Arghhhhh ... that’s like drinking single malt scotch with Dr. Pepper.

[Uri’el-2012]

I have always enjoyed his cello concerti.

[Joe 6-pack]

"As overplayed as The Four Seasons is, it’s still a musical tour-de-force."

Further evidence of climate change ;-)

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Lol! That’s a keeper!

[Cyman]

Ran in to Tony the other day, looked 223-224 at the most.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“I don’t like Baroque”

And, like Mozart, he died baroque too.

[stephenjohnbanker]

ouch

[MinuteGal]

"And, like Mozart, he died baroque too."

Clever jokeque, SJB.

LOL...

Leni

[stephenjohnbanker]

“.My motto is “Do unto liberals as they do unto us, POW!”..

” Do unto liberals, before they do unto you”

SJB

[onedoug]

“If it ain’t baroque don’t fix it.”

[left that other site]

My favorite piece by Vivaldi is his 2nd GUITAR Concerto, particularly the 2nd movement.

I use it to teach Counterpoint, as most of the “species’ of counterpoint are represented.

It is as sweet as a lullaby, but as cool as a Led Zeppelin Power ballad!

Happy Birthday, Antonio!

[Borges]

Don’t confuse Vivaldi with all of Baroque. Bach for instance.

[BelegStrongbow]

Everybody differs. When I hear Vivaldi come on, I turn it up. Makes for horse races. :)