Antonio Lucio Vivaldi

Background Information
He was an Italian Baroque composer, priest, and violinist, born in Venice. Recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, his influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe. Vivaldi is known mainly for composing instrumental concertos, especially for the violin, as well as sacred choral works and over forty operas. His best known work are The Four Seasons.

The Four Seasons

The Four Seasons is a set of four short violin concertos written around 1720. Each season is a three-movement work lasting about ten minutes. The Four Seasons concertos were inspired by four paintings of the seasons by the artist Marco Ricci. The concertos were first published in 1725 as part of a set of twelve concerti.

The Four Seasons

Each one is in three movements, with a slow movement between two faster ones. At the time of writing The Four Seasons, the modern solo form of the concerto had not yet been defined (typically a solo instrument and accompanying orchestra). Vivaldi's original arrangement for solo violin with string quartet and basso continuo helped to define the form.

Contribution to Music
Vivaldis contributions has helped develop music in the Baroque period, adding more advanced elements, these include; Greatly advanced violin technique. Established the three-movement concerto form. Helped develop solo sonata. Introduced new bowings and techniques for stringed instruments. Pushed programmatic music a step further ("The Four Seasons").

Contribution to Music
He is considered one of the composers who brought Baroque music to evolve into an impressionist style. Bach transcribed a number of Vivaldi's concertos for solo keyboard, along with a number for orchestra, including the famous Concerto for Four Violins and Violoncello, Strings and Continuo. However, not all the musicians showed the same enthusiasm: Igor Stravinsky said that Vivaldi had not written hundreds of concertos, but one concerto, repeated hundreds of times.