Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi is the greatest Italian composer of the Baroque era and one of the most influential composers of the western classical music. His music was widely spread throughout Europe. Many composers were highly influenced by Vivaldi’s works, including the world’s great German composer Johann Sebastian Bach who studied Vivaldi’s violin concertos and adapted them for the clavier when he began to study the art of composition.
There’s not much detailed information about Vivaldi’s early life. The great master was born in March 4th 1678, in Venice, Italy. His father was a barber and a talented violinist at St. Mark’s Cathedral of Venice's orchestra. Vivaldi received his early lessons in music and violin from his father. He studied for the priesthood during his early time and was ordained in 1703. Vivaldi was widely known as "ilPreteRosso" or “the red-haired priest” because of his unusual hair-colouring.
However, Vivaldi didn’t enjoy the religious life. His true passion was actually for the art of music. After the year 1709, he became a violin teacher at Ospitaledella Pieta, a girls’ orphanage in Venice where he composed a number of music pieces including many concertos, cantatas and sacred music. He also became a maestro di' concerti (music director) of the Ospitaledella Pieta Orchestra and helped it gained great reputations throughout Europe.
During his life time, Vivaldi had composed an enormous amount of music pieces. He was mostly recognised for his three movements form concertos and violin music. However, “opera was indeed Vivaldi’s main concern”. (Talbot 1993, 49) After he had become a well-known violinist and composer, Vivaldi became greatly involved in the world of opera. In May 17th, 1713, Vivaldi’s first opera, Ottone in Villa,was performed at the small TeatrodelleGarzeri. Although some composers in his time believed that one could not be equally successful in creating both the instrumental and vocal composition, Vivaldi was able to master that skill effectively. Even the notable German composer, JohannMattheson once stated that “Vivaldi, albeit no singer, has had the sense to keep violin-leaps out of his vocal compositions so completely that his arias have become a thorn in the flesh to many an experienced composer.” (Talbot 1993, 130)Vivaldihad composed about 46 operas and was actually also known as a famous opera composer during the Baroque time.
The great composer died in July 26th, 1741, in Vienna, Austria. Although during his successful career Vivaldi had gained enough wealth to live a comfortable life, he finally passed away in poverty. His valuable works were forgotten after his death. And it was until the 20th century when some of Vivaldi’s works were rediscovered. Of these are a large number of instrumental compositions, including 92 sonatas, 474 concertos and 14 sinfonias. Vivaldi’s Four Seasonsconcertos are considered to be the composer’s most famous pieces nowadays. The Four Seasons are the series of the following concertos for violin.
1. Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, "La primavera" (Spring)
2. Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, "L'estate" (Summer)
3. Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, "L'autunno" also known as the "DanzaPastorale" (Autumn)
4. Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, "L'inverno" (Winter)
Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbpAFzyrx5o
However, Vivaldi didn’t enjoy the religious life. His true passion was actually for the art of music. After the year 1709, he became a violin teacher at Ospitaledella Pieta, a girls’ orphanage in Venice where he composed a number of music pieces including many concertos, cantatas and sacred music. He also became a maestro di' concerti (music director) of the Ospitaledella Pieta Orchestra and helped it gained great reputations throughout Europe.
During his life time, Vivaldi had composed an enormous amount of music pieces. He was mostly recognised for his three movements form concertos and violin music. However, “opera was indeed Vivaldi’s main concern”. (Talbot 1993, 49) After he had become a well-known violinist and composer, Vivaldi became greatly involved in the world of opera. In May 17th, 1713, Vivaldi’s first opera, Ottone in Villa,was performed at the small TeatrodelleGarzeri. Although some composers in his time believed that one could not be equally successful in creating both the instrumental and vocal composition, Vivaldi was able to master that skill effectively. Even the notable German composer, JohannMattheson once stated that “Vivaldi, albeit no singer, has had the sense to keep violin-leaps out of his vocal compositions so completely that his arias have become a thorn in the flesh to many an experienced composer.” (Talbot 1993, 130)Vivaldihad composed about 46 operas and was actually also known as a famous opera composer during the Baroque time.
The great composer died in July 26th, 1741, in Vienna, Austria. Although during his successful career Vivaldi had gained enough wealth to live a comfortable life, he finally passed away in poverty. His valuable works were forgotten after his death. And it was until the 20th century when some of Vivaldi’s works were rediscovered. Of these are a large number of instrumental compositions, including 92 sonatas, 474 concertos and 14 sinfonias. Vivaldi’s Four Seasonsconcertos are considered to be the composer’s most famous pieces nowadays. The Four Seasons are the series of the following concertos for violin.
1. Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, "La primavera" (Spring)
2. Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, "L'estate" (Summer)
3. Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, "L'autunno" also known as the "DanzaPastorale" (Autumn)
4. Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, "L'inverno" (Winter)
Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbpAFzyrx5o
Johann Sebastian Bach
Among the great names of the world of Baroque music, Johann Sebastian Bach stands out as the exceptional one. Bach is considered by many people as the Father of Baroque Music. Bach gave his entire passion and life to the art of music and had a great influence on many musicians and composers of later periods including the well-known Ludwig van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.
Bach early life was not an easy one. He was born in March 21st 1685, at Eisenach, a town in Thuringia, Germany. His father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was a violinist who was a court musician of the town. Being born to a professional musicians family,little Bach gained a great interest in music since an early age. However, around May 1694, when Bach was still nine years old, his mother Elisabeth Lammerhrt, passed away. His father also died in the following year. Being left as an orphan, the ten-year-old Bach moved to Ohrdruf and lived under the care of his eldest brother, Johann Christoph Bach who was an organist at that town. It was from Christoph that Bach received his earliest clavier lesson.
Bach early life was not an easy one. He was born in March 21st 1685, at Eisenach, a town in Thuringia, Germany. His father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was a violinist who was a court musician of the town. Being born to a professional musicians family,little Bach gained a great interest in music since an early age. However, around May 1694, when Bach was still nine years old, his mother Elisabeth Lammerhrt, passed away. His father also died in the following year. Being left as an orphan, the ten-year-old Bach moved to Ohrdruf and lived under the care of his eldest brother, Johann Christoph Bach who was an organist at that town. It was from Christoph that Bach received his earliest clavier lesson.
Bach House
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Tour/Wechmar-Photos.htm
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Tour/Wechmar-Photos.htm
The young child’s exceptional talent of music was truly a gifted one. And Christoph knew this with envy. Once, when Bach tried to borrow the book of his brother that contained pieces of many famous clavier composers of the time, he was refused. But with great passion and enthusiasm, Bach managed to copy the pieces from the book during the nights. After working hard for six months however, he was caught by Christoph who took the copy away without pity.
After living a difficult life with his eldest brother until the age of fifteen, Bach travelled to Luneburg and entered the Church school of St. Michael where he joined the Church’s choir. His beautiful soprano voice made him received the full education scholarship from the school. Not long after that however, Bach started to be a young man and lost his high, beautiful voice. Fortunately, his talented skill in violin and organ helped him to stay at the school. It is during this time that Bach started to studied composition and gained a passion in organ.
Bach fell in love with his second cousin, Maria Barbara. They married in 1702 and had seven children. Three of them became composers. However, Maria passed away in 1720. Later on in 1721,Bach married Anna Magdalena, a soprano singer who was 17 years younger than him. They had thirteen children. Some of them later became important composers of Rococo, a style that put an end to the Baroque era.
As Bach’s age increased, so did his talent in music. Although he wasn’t born in fortune and had to face many difficulties during the early time of life, his strong determination and diligence made him finally became a successful musician. Bach “had studied hard as a player and composer, and by tireless enthusiasm had so completely mastered every branch of his art that he towered like a giant above his contemporaries.”(Forkel and Terry 2011,par. 18) Once when he was in Dresden, Bach was urged to enter a contest with a renowned French pianist Jean Marchand whose outstanding talent had won a great reputation in his birth country. On the contest day however, when Bach has already arrived and everything was ready, it became known that the talented Marchand had fled the city.
Bach visited many cities throughout Germany to study, work and give performances mostly on organ and clavier. His talent in music gave him opportunities to work for many important people from high society and gained great admirations from them. One of the great people who respected Bach so much was King Frederic the Great. The king was very interest in the art of music and had tried several times to invited Bach to come to his palace in Postdam. One evening, in the year 1747, when the king and his royal orchestra were about to start a concert at the palace, it was known that Bach had arrived. The King claimed with great excitement “Gentlemen, old Bach has come!” (Brower 2004) and gave up the concert at once. He received Bach with great kindness and showed him through the palace. The King asked Bach to improvise one of His Majesty’s compositions and play it to him. After Bach had done all that were requested, the King was so astonished and impressed by Bach’s notable talent that he said aloud “Oh, in this world it’s only Bach! Only Bach!” (Inthragamheang 2000, 27)
Bach’s visit to Postdam was his last journey. (Forkel and Terry2011, par. 27) The great composer died in July 28th 1750.His body was buried in the churchyard of St. John's at Leipsic.
Although Bach had composed an astronomically number of music pieces during his life time, it was about a hundred year later that his compositions became well-known around the world. Lots of people in Bach’s time thought that his works, which were mostly music for church, were too flowery. Even his own son, Johann Christian Bach, criticised his father’s works as “lengthy and conservative”. (Inthragamheang 2000, 28)Many of Bach’s compositions were lost after his death, but a lot of them survived to the modern time. Bach’s important works that are still famous around the world today include Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, Brandenburg Concertos, Cello Suite No. 1, and Air on G String.
Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G Majorhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHHzop0ha6Y
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor for Organ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Aej0vQJNQA
Cello Suite No. 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGQLXRTl3Z0
Air on G String
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_FfAi68aW8
After living a difficult life with his eldest brother until the age of fifteen, Bach travelled to Luneburg and entered the Church school of St. Michael where he joined the Church’s choir. His beautiful soprano voice made him received the full education scholarship from the school. Not long after that however, Bach started to be a young man and lost his high, beautiful voice. Fortunately, his talented skill in violin and organ helped him to stay at the school. It is during this time that Bach started to studied composition and gained a passion in organ.
Bach fell in love with his second cousin, Maria Barbara. They married in 1702 and had seven children. Three of them became composers. However, Maria passed away in 1720. Later on in 1721,Bach married Anna Magdalena, a soprano singer who was 17 years younger than him. They had thirteen children. Some of them later became important composers of Rococo, a style that put an end to the Baroque era.
As Bach’s age increased, so did his talent in music. Although he wasn’t born in fortune and had to face many difficulties during the early time of life, his strong determination and diligence made him finally became a successful musician. Bach “had studied hard as a player and composer, and by tireless enthusiasm had so completely mastered every branch of his art that he towered like a giant above his contemporaries.”(Forkel and Terry 2011,par. 18) Once when he was in Dresden, Bach was urged to enter a contest with a renowned French pianist Jean Marchand whose outstanding talent had won a great reputation in his birth country. On the contest day however, when Bach has already arrived and everything was ready, it became known that the talented Marchand had fled the city.
Bach visited many cities throughout Germany to study, work and give performances mostly on organ and clavier. His talent in music gave him opportunities to work for many important people from high society and gained great admirations from them. One of the great people who respected Bach so much was King Frederic the Great. The king was very interest in the art of music and had tried several times to invited Bach to come to his palace in Postdam. One evening, in the year 1747, when the king and his royal orchestra were about to start a concert at the palace, it was known that Bach had arrived. The King claimed with great excitement “Gentlemen, old Bach has come!” (Brower 2004) and gave up the concert at once. He received Bach with great kindness and showed him through the palace. The King asked Bach to improvise one of His Majesty’s compositions and play it to him. After Bach had done all that were requested, the King was so astonished and impressed by Bach’s notable talent that he said aloud “Oh, in this world it’s only Bach! Only Bach!” (Inthragamheang 2000, 27)
Bach’s visit to Postdam was his last journey. (Forkel and Terry2011, par. 27) The great composer died in July 28th 1750.His body was buried in the churchyard of St. John's at Leipsic.
Although Bach had composed an astronomically number of music pieces during his life time, it was about a hundred year later that his compositions became well-known around the world. Lots of people in Bach’s time thought that his works, which were mostly music for church, were too flowery. Even his own son, Johann Christian Bach, criticised his father’s works as “lengthy and conservative”. (Inthragamheang 2000, 28)Many of Bach’s compositions were lost after his death, but a lot of them survived to the modern time. Bach’s important works that are still famous around the world today include Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, Brandenburg Concertos, Cello Suite No. 1, and Air on G String.
Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G Majorhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHHzop0ha6Y
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor for Organ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Aej0vQJNQA
Cello Suite No. 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGQLXRTl3Z0
Air on G String
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_FfAi68aW8
Bibliography
1. Brower, Harriette. “The World's Great Men of Music: Story-Lives of Master Musicians.” Project Gutenberg. August 25, 2004. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13291/13291-h/13291-h.htm>.
2. Forkel, Johann Nikolaus and Charles Sanford Terry. “Johann Sebastian Bach.” Project Gutenberg. January 24, 2011. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.gutenberg.org/files/35041/35041-h/35041-h.html>.
3. Heller, Karl. Antonio Vivaldi: The Red Priest of Venice. Oregon: Amadeus Press, 1997. Print.
4. SatitInthragamheang. ChakDuang Chai. [Thai: จากดวงใจ.] 8th ed. Bangkok: Praew Entertain, 2000. Print.
5. Talbot, Michael. The Dent Master Musicians: Vivaldi. 2nd ed. London: J.M. Dent, 1993. Print.
2. Forkel, Johann Nikolaus and Charles Sanford Terry. “Johann Sebastian Bach.” Project Gutenberg. January 24, 2011. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.gutenberg.org/files/35041/35041-h/35041-h.html>.
3. Heller, Karl. Antonio Vivaldi: The Red Priest of Venice. Oregon: Amadeus Press, 1997. Print.
4. SatitInthragamheang. ChakDuang Chai. [Thai: จากดวงใจ.] 8th ed. Bangkok: Praew Entertain, 2000. Print.
5. Talbot, Michael. The Dent Master Musicians: Vivaldi. 2nd ed. London: J.M. Dent, 1993. Print.