Circa: 1678-1741

Place of Birth: Venice

Period: High Baroque

Best Known Works: The Four Seasons

Did You Know?

Vivaldi wasn't really discovered until the 1950's when 'The Four Seasons' Concerto was performed for the first time in years. Hi-Fi was also invented so people could listen to recordings of it at home. This was all two hundred years ofter his death.

Facts.

Vivaldi was often referred to as 'The Red Preiest' on account of his bright red hair, and the fact that he was actually a priest. As was often the case in musical history, composers and musicians would either work for the church or a noble family, perhaps a priest or a teacher, but would also have musical duties. In Vivaldi's case he worked at an orphanage for abandoned girls called Ospedale della Pieta in Venice, where his priestly duties were few so he spent much of his time composing, playing the violin and teaching music.

Though he considered himself mainly a composer of opera (claiming to have written "ten more than ninety") he is best known for his role in establishing what came to be recognised as the standard for of concerto. This consists of three movements, the first being quick, the second slow and the third quick again. The first and third movements would generally be played by the whole orchestra, while the middle one would be were the soloist demonstrates ther virtuosity.

Cellists throughout the world should also be grateful to Vivaldi, as he did a great deal to popularise the cello as a solo instrument , and was fondof using unusual instruments in his compositions.

He would be pleased to know that over the last few years his genius for writing opera is at last being recognised.