ANTONIO VIVALDI

This is Vivaldi

CHILDHOOD

• Born March 4th, 1678, in Venice Italy
• His father, Batista Vivaldi, taught him how to play violin
• At age 15, he began studying to become a priest
• A chronic shortness of breath prevented him from mastering wind instruments

VIVALDI’S FAMILY

• His father was Giovanni battista Vivaldi
• His mother was Camilla calicchio
• He had 4 brothers, Francesco Gaetano, Iseppo santo, iseppo gaetano, bonaventura tomaso
• He had 4 sisters, zanetta anna, gerolama michela, Cecilia Maria, and margarita Gabriela

CAREER

• He became a priest in 1703
• Due to his red hair, he was known as “il Prete rodeo” or “the red priest”
• Health problems forced him to abandon his priesthood

MUSICAL CAREER

• At age 25, he was named master of violin at ospedale Della pieta in Venice
• In 1716, he was promoted to music director
• Vivaldi composed in the Baroque era

MUSICAL CAREER CONTINUED

• Two of his most successful operatic works are la constanza trionfante, and farnace
• From 1717 to 1721, he wrote his four part masterpiece , the four seasons

OSPEDALE DELLA PIETÀ,

• Many of his compositions were written for the all female ensemble of the Ospedale della Pietà, a home for abandoned children
• Vivaldi worked there as a catholic priest for 1 and 1/2 years

LATER LIFE

• Vivaldi’s renown as a composer In early life did not grant him lasting financial success, so he left for Vienna, Austria in hopes to find a position in the imperial court

DEATH

• Vivaldi died In poverty on July 28TH, 1741
• He was buried In a simple grave after a funeral service that proceeded without music
• He died in Vienna, Austria

20TH CENTURY

• Musicians and scholars revived Vivaldi’s music in the early 20th century
• His music has been performed widely since world war 2
• Vivaldi’s work, including nearly 500 concerts, have influenced many composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach

FUN FACTS

• On the day of Vivaldi’s birth, there was a large earthquake that occurred in Venice
• J.S Bach was a huge fan of Vivaldi’s music
• The total of Vivaldi’s compositions was 500 concertos, 90 sonatas, and 46 operas
• Vivaldi suffered from a form of asthma which limited his duties administering Mass but gave him more time to spend writing music

YOUTUBE LINKS

• Violin concerto in E flat major https://youtu.be/3UJ7STmXKGA
• Spring from Four seasons https://youtu.be/mFWQgxXM_b8
• Concerto number 5 in E flat major https://youtu.be/qEpxhuPcD00
• I chose the composition Spring because it’s a really beautiful piece and it just really stood out to me. I really like the string instruments in this piece.

CREDITS

• Wikipedia
• YouTube
• Classicsforkids
• Conollymusic
• Sphinxkids