Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741) was an Italian
composer and violinist, considered among the greatest
exponents of Baroque music. A priest, although unable
to celebrate mass for health reasons, he was called
"the Red Priest" due to the color of his hair. He was
one of the most virtuosic violinists of his time and
one of the greatest composers of Baroque music.
Considered the most important, influential and original
Italian musician of his era, Vivaldi contributed
significantly to the developm...(+)
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741) was an Italian
composer and violinist, considered among the greatest
exponents of Baroque music. A priest, although unable
to celebrate mass for health reasons, he was called
"the Red Priest" due to the color of his hair. He was
one of the most virtuosic violinists of his time and
one of the greatest composers of Baroque music.
Considered the most important, influential and original
Italian musician of his era, Vivaldi contributed
significantly to the development of the concerto,
especially solo (a genre initiated by Giuseppe
Torelli), and of violin technique and orchestration.
Furthermore, he did not neglect opera in music and his
vast compositional work also includes numerous
concerts, sonatas and pieces of sacred music.
His works influenced numerous composers of his time
including the greatest Baroque genius Johann Sebastian
Bach, but also Pisendel, Heinichen, Zelenka,
Boismortier, Corrette, De Fesch, Quantz. His best-known
compositions are the four violin concertos known as The
Four Seasons, a famous example of subject music. As
with many Baroque composers, his name and music fell
into oblivion after his death. Only thanks to the
research of some 20th century musicologists, such as
Arnold Schering, Marc Pincherle, Alberto Gentili,
Alfredo Casella and Gian Francesco Malipiero, his name
and his works became famous again, becoming one of the
best known and most performed composers.
Vivaldi wrote the Laudate Dominum, RV606, a concise but
powerful single-movement setting of Psalm 116 (117 in
Protestant bibles) for choir and strings, in his
‘first’ period at the Pietà. Having only two
verses, plus the mandatory Lesser Doxology, the Psalm
could hardly have been treated otherwise (it is the
Psalms with around ten verses that make the best
candidates for multi-movement treatment). Vivaldi
concentrates melodic and rhythmic interest in the part
for unison violins, treating the choir as a kind of
‘texted continuo’. This violin part is based on a
short, arching motive that in some shape or form
reappears once or twice in literally every bar.
Half-way through, the composer produces a masterstroke,
illustrating the word ‘misericordia’ (mercy) with a
surging progression in sustained notes that takes the
music momentarily into the distant region of B flat
minor (the home key is D minor).
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_(Vivaldi)).
Although originally written for 2 Mixed Chorus
(SATB/SATB), Strings & Continuo, I created this
Interpretation of the "Laudáte Dóminum, omnes Gentes"
from Psalm 116 in D Minor (RV 606) for Winds (Flute,
Oboe, French Horn & Bassoon) & Strings (2 Violins,
Viola & Cello).
SHEET MUSIC