MUSIC SATURDAY - VIVALDI

“If you do not like this piece, I will no longer write music.” – Antonio Vivaldi

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian Baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher and cleric. Born in Venice, he is recognised as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread across Europe. He is known mainly for composing many instrumental concertos, for the violin and a variety of other instruments, as well as sacred choral works and more than forty operas.

His best-known work is a series of violin concertos known as “The Four Seasons”. Many of his compositions were written for the female music ensemble of the Ospedale della Pietà, a home for abandoned children where Vivaldi (who had been ordained as a Catholic priest) was employed from 1703 to 1715 and from 1723 to 1740.

Vivaldi also had some success with expensive stagings of his operas in Venice, Mantua and Vienna. After meeting the Emperor Charles VI, Vivaldi moved to Vienna, hoping for preferment. However, the Emperor died soon after Vivaldi’s arrival, and Vivaldi himself died less than a year later in poverty. After his death, Vivaldi’s music slid into obscurity until a vigorous revival in the 20th century. Today, he ranks among the most popular and widely recorded of Baroque composers, second perhaps only to Johann Sebastian Bach, who himself was deeply influenced by Vivaldi’s work.

For Music Saturday, one of my favourite Vivaldi concerti, the Concerto for Two Violins in A Minor (RV 522) from “L’ Estro Armonico”, Op.3.No.8, with Willi Boskowsky, Jan Tomasow (solo violins).
0:00 1st movement
3:59 2nd movement
8:02 3rd movement

Johann Sebastian Bach thought highly of this concerto, enough to arrange it for keyboard, which I am sure he had great delight in playing.

I love the classical music YouTube videos such as this, which include the score to follow along as one is listening!

MUSIC SATURDAY - VIVALDI'S MANDOLIN

“The sound of the mandolin is a very curious sound because it’s cheerful and melancholy at the same time, and I think it comes from that shadow string, the double strings.” - Rita Dove

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian Baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher and cleric. Born in Venice, he was recognised as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread across Europe. He was aged fifteen and a half when he received the tonsure, and grew up to become the prete rosso (“red priest”) of Venice, so called on account of his red hair. Although he remained a deeply religious man, he stopped saying Mass soon after his ordination; later in life he cited a long-term ailment as the reason for this (probably asthma).

From September 1703 to February 1709 he was violin teacher at the Pio Ospedale della Pietà in Venice (an orphanage for girls which offered musical training). In addition to teaching violin, directing, and composing instrumental works, Vivaldi also taught the viole all' inglese and was responsible for acquiring and maintaining string instruments for the orchestra. By this time he had begun to establish himself as a composer. He was an avid traveller and one of the most prolific composers of his time, having written over 350 concerti, many church compositions and numerous operas.

His popularity in Venice had declined considerably by 1739, and this may have prompted him to travel to Vienna, where he arrived by June 28, 1741. He died there the following month, and was given a pauper’s burial at the Hospital Burial Ground. Vivaldi was most influential as a composer of instrumental music, particularly concertos, in which his regular use of ritornello form in the fast movements and of a three-movement plan were influential. A skilful orchestrator, he favoured effects such as muting and pizzicato. A number of his orchestral works are programmatic, the best-known examples being the concertos ‘Il Gardellino’ (The Goldfinch), ‘La Tempesta di Mare’ (The Tempest at Sea), and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Dove ‘Le Quattro Stagioni’ (The Four Seasons) of Opus 8.

After his death, Vivaldi’s music slid into obscurity until a vigorous revival in the 20th century. Today, he ranks among the most popular and widely recorded of Baroque composers, second perhaps only to Johann Sebastian Bach, who himself was deeply influenced by Vivaldi’s work.

Here are some works for Mandolin and Lute, performed by L’Arte dell’Arco, with Federico Guglielmo [violin I/concert master]; Mauro Squillante [mandolin RV 532/II, RV 425]; Davide Rebuffa [mandolin RV 532/I]; Diego Cantalupi [archlute RV 85/93/82]; Pietro Prosser [baroque lute RV 540]; Mario Paladin [viola d’amore RV 540]; Nicola Reniero [harpsichord RV 425].

THE PLEASURES OF A GARDEN

“If you wish to be happy for a day, get drunk; if you wish to be happy for a week, kill a pig; if you wish to be happy for a month, get married, but if you wish to be happy forever, plant a garden…” - Chinese proverb
 

This morning it was cool and perfect for going out into the garden to have our breakfast. Sipping a cup of coffee, munching on some toast and listening to music on ABC Classic FM was delightful. One could really wind down even before the day started, while looking out on the flowering backyard. The summer roses were blooming, the last of the summer annuals are putting on their best show and the jasmine was full of its fragrant white blooms. The birdsong in the background was a perfect counterfoil to the Vivaldi concertos playing, while the rich aroma of the coffee mixing with the heady smell of blossoms created a perfect combination.
 

Here are the Viola d’ Amore concertos by Vivaldi to enjoy.


This early and tranquil start to the day was not to last long as certain “jobs” in the garden had to be done and done they were! We went out a couple of times and purchased some mulch as the garden needed a top-up and the hot weather was certainly causing the plants to suffer. The mulch makes a world of a difference and while preventing weeds growing ,it also keeps the moisture in the soil, conserving water.
 

We found some rocks close to home as the gas company is replacing gas pipes and there are gaping holes all over the place where they have excavated. Our suburb lies on top of an ancient lava flow and there rare rocks galore underneath the soil. The excavations had exposed quite a few of these and as they were to be discarded, we took them home to adorn the garden. Backbreaking work, but worth it in the end.
 

Not the least of the jobs to be done were the lifting of some statuary and their elevation on plinths, such that they became more visible above the plants that surrounded them which had rendered them almost invisible. We fortunately found the right plinths close to home and at a reasonable price. The statues were erected on their new plinths and our little piece of paradise was once again a cotton-wool insulation against the harsh realities of the world outside our gate. Happy are we that are able to enjoy such luxuries and live a life that is so generous with us

MUSIC SATURDAY - VIVALDI'S CELLO CONCERTOS

“When I started learning the cello, I fell in love with the instrument because it seemed like a voice - my voice.” - Mstislav Rostropovich
 
For Music Saturday, the complete Cello Concertos by Antonio Vivaldi, performed by Ofra Hanoy and the Toronto Chamber Orchestra.
 
They are the following concertos:

Concerto for Cello, RV 405 in D minor

Concerto for Cello, RV 401 in C minor 10:23

Concerto for Cello, RV 423 in B-flat 22:34

Concerto for Cello, RV 399 in C 32:45

Concerto for Cello and Bassoon, RV 409 in E minor 41:18

Concerto Movement for Cello, RV 538 in D minor 50:15

Concerto for Cello, RV 403 in D 53:51

Concerto for Cello, RV 424 in B minor 1:02:23

Concerto for Cello, RV 422 in A minor 1:12:32

Concerto for Cello, RV 402 in C minor 1:23:54

Concerto for Cello, RV 412 in F 1:34:20

Concerto for Cello, RV 414 in G 1:43:18

Concerto for Cello, RV406 in D minor 1:56:58

Concerto for Cello, RV 411 in F 2:07:16

Concerto for Cello, RV 404 in D 2:13:47

Concerto for Cello, RV 420 in A Minor 2:21:29

Concerto for Cello, RV 407 in D Minor 2:34:31

Concerto for Cello, RV 417 in G Minor 2:44:38

Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra, RV 544 in F 2:55:07

Concerto for Cello, RV 418 in A-Minor 3:06:21

Concerto for Cello, RV 408 in E-Flat 3:17:46

Concerto for Cello, RV 416 in G Minor 3:28:58

Concerto for Cello, RV 419 in A Minor 3:38:44

Concerto for Cello, RV 413 in G 3:48:03

Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra, RV 547 in B-Flat 3:59:09

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741), nicknamed il Prete Rosso (“The Red Priest”) because of his red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer, Catholic priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice. Recognised 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 is a series of violin concertos known as "The Four Seasons".
 

Many of his compositions were written for the female music ensemble of the Ospedale della Pietà, a home for abandoned children where Vivaldi had been employed from 1703 to 1715 and from 1723 to 1740. Vivaldi also had some success with stagings of his operas in Venice, Mantua and Vienna. After meeting the Emperor Charles VI, Vivaldi moved to Vienna, hoping for preferment. However, the Emperor died soon after Vivaldi's arrival and Vivaldi himself died less than a year later.
 

Though Vivaldi’s music was well received during his lifetime, it later declined in popularity until its vigorous revival in the first half of the 20th century. Today, Vivaldi ranks among the most popular and widely recorded of Baroque composers, second only to Johann Sebastian Bach.

VIVALDI FOR SATURDAY

“The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in human meekness and human responsibility.” - Václav Havel
 

For Music Saturday, a piece of music by Antonio Vivaldi, the motet “Longe Mala Umbrae Terrores” in G minor, RV629. The motet speaks of the terrors of the world and asks for the Lord to appear with his glory in order to save believers in Him. It is a wonderful showpiece for a soprano, with great varieties in mood and character of the music, to reflect the lyrics. This recording is with Teresa Berganza and the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Antonio Ros-Marbá.
 

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 - 28 July 1741), nicknamed il Prete Rosso (“The Red Priest”) because of his red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer, Catholic priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice. Recognised 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 is a series of violin concertos known as “The Four Seasons”.
 

Many of his compositions were written for the female music ensemble of the Ospedale della Pietà, a home for abandoned children where Vivaldi had been employed from 1703 to 1715 and from 1723 to 1740. Vivaldi also had some success with stagings of his operas in Venice, Mantua and Vienna. After meeting the Emperor Charles VI, Vivaldi moved to Vienna, hoping for preferment. The Emperor died soon after Vivaldi's arrival.
 

Though Vivaldi's music was well received during his lifetime, it later declined in popularity until its vigorous revival in the first half of the 20th century. Today, Vivaldi ranks among the most popular and widely recorded of Baroque composers.

The illustration above is Samuel Colman's “The Rock of Salvation”

VIVALDI FOR SATURDAY

“Music is the universal language of mankind” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Wadsworth_Longfellow
 
A wintry Saturday today, with rain, cold and grey skies all day. We stayed in and enjoyed the warmth of the house, doing the household chores, having a leisurely lunch and watching a movie. The evening was lovely as usual…
 
Here is a delightful concerto by Vivaldi. It is the Oboe Concerto in C major, RV 450, played by Benoît Laurent, oboe and the Concerto Köln.

A RAINY SATURDAY

 “I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape. Something waits beneath it; the whole story doesn’t show.” - Andrew Wyeth

The weekend is here again and another Saturday filled with the blessed routine of doing chores around the house and some shopping for essentials. Otherwise, the weather has been too bad for gardening or any other seriously outdoor activity. Instead, it has been a day of staying inside and luxuriating in the warmth and cosiness of home. We watched a movie, read, listened to music and generally relaxed.

What better than some Antonio Vivaldi to finish the day off? Here is his Concerto for Two Violins in A Minor (RV 522) from L'Estro Armonico, Op.3.No.8. This is a favourite of mine, but it also was a favourite of J.S. Bach’s as he transcribed it for keyboard. It is a very dramatic concerto with wonderful melody, harmony, and much incident that is inventive and adventurous. Perfect for the blustery winter season, illustrating some wild weather, but also the pleasures of a warm fireside!

SPRING IN SYDNEY

Allegro: “Springtime is upon us. 
The birds celebrate her return with festive song, and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes. Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven, Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more.”
Largo: “On the flower-strewn meadow, with leafy branches rustling overhead, the goat-herd sleeps, his faithful dog beside him.”
Allegro: ‘Led by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes, nymphs and shepherds lightly dance beneath the brilliant canopy of spring.” – Vivaldi, Spring Sonnet for his Concerto.

I was in Sydney for the day for work today and most of the day I spent indoors as we were being audited. A regulatory body audit is dreaded by most businesses, but I don’t mind them at all. In fact some of them I actually enjoy! Today proved to be one that I quite liked, with my team of colleagues and I working well together and answering all questions to the satisfaction of the panel. This outcome was really the result of good preparation and having material that was up to the level of scrutiny that an audit panel subjects such material to. The final oral report was very favourable and we now expect the written report, which will be also favourable.

The day here in Sydney was rainy and cool, so just as well I had to spend the day inside. The sky was quite leaden and the rain kept falling in sheets. Definitely a day of spring showers and lingering winter grays. On the drive to and from the airport, however, there was a sure sign of Spring on the median strip in the form of Gymea lilies (Doryanthes excelsa) that have started to bloom. These are a kind of most imposing and spectacular Australian native flower, with long, one metre leaves that resemble sword blades and a central thick flower spike that grows to two metres tall (and up to six metres!). On its top there is a compact cluster of crimson, nectar-filled flowers.

The wattles and the grevilleas are also blooming and the rose bushes have just started to sprout, their unfurling leaves still dark crimson and russet. The bulbs are making their final show, with daffodils, hyacinths, anemones, bluebells, tulips on their way out and the freesias, ranunculus, grape hyacinths and sparaxis still flowering. Winter may linger but Spring is in the air. One of these weekends coming up soon, we must go to the Botanic Gardens as it is a glorious season to visit it. Although the natives are often not as spectacular as the introduced species, the Botanic Gardens have a good variety of plants, both native, as well as exotics. It’s funny how the rose, the Madonna lily, the chrysanthemum and the lilac are all considered exotic species here in Australia!

VIVALDI ON A SATURDAY NIGHT

"And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs
And as silently steal away."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A beautiful Vivaldi concerto to finish the week on. I love this concerto and J.S. Bach loved it too, as he arranged it for solo organ.

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Concerto for two violins in A Minor (RV 522)
L'Estro Armonico, Op.3.No.8.

Chamber Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera Recording: 1964 Mario Rossi (cond.) Willi Boskowsky, Jan Tomasow (solo violins).

SUMMER'S COMING

“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.” – Stanley Horowitz

The weather today in Sydney is definitely summery, with an expected top of 30˚C. The brilliant sunlight through the window in the hotel ensured I got up early in time for the breakfast meeting I had. Overall this trip has been very successful, and once again I am aware of how much work gets done over a meal. This is an interesting although not unexpected state of affairs, as it seems that people relax more over a meal and are willing to be more open to ideas and innovative proposals.

By about 8:00 am the temperature was already in the mid 20s and rising. This very unseasonable heat maybe presages a very hot summer ahead…

Some Vivaldi today. The gorgeous “Summer” from the “Four Seasons”.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VIVALDI

“Music is the shorthand of emotion.” - Leo Tolstoy

Today is a special day for the world of music as it is the anniversary of the birth of the famous Venetian composer, Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741). Antonio Vivaldi was aged fifteen and a half when he received the tonsure, and grew up to become the prete rosso (“red priest”) of Venice, so called on account of his red hair. Although he remained a deeply religious man, he stopped saying Mass soon after his ordination; later in life he cited a long-term ailment as the reason for this (probably asthma). From September 1703 to February 1709 he was violin teacher at the Pio Ospedale della Pietà in Venice (an orphanage for girls which offered musical training). In addition to teaching violin, directing, and composing instrumental works, Vivaldi also taught the viole all' inglese and was responsible for acquiring and maintaining string instruments for the orchestra.

By this time he had begun to establish himself as a composer He was an avid traveller and one of the most prolific composers of his time, having written over 350 concerti, many church compositions and numerous operas. His popularity in Venice had declined considerably by 1739, and this may have prompted him to travel to Vienna, where he arrived by June 28, 1741. He died there the following month, and was given a pauper's burial at the Hospital Burial Ground.

Vivaldi was most influential as a composer of instrumental music, particularly concertos, in which his regular use of ritornello form in the fast movements and of a three-movement plan were influential. A skillful orchestrator, he favored effects such as muting and pizzicato. A number of his orchestral works are programmatic, the best-known examples being the concertos Il Gardellino, La tempesta di mare, and Le quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons) of Opus 8.



One of his concertos that I particularly like is the concerto in A minor for two violins, opus 3 no 8. It has a brilliant first movement that is rich in ideas that contrast between themselves and contains a lyrical theme despite the rapid allegro marking. The second movement is marked larghetto e spiritoso, contrasting again the lyrical beauty of the theme and the accompanying ostinato style. The last movement is another allegro, but this time less structured with the two solo violins conversing and arguing in succession. Johann Sebastian Bach seems to have also admired this concerto as he transcribed it, amongst others of Vivaldi, for keyboard.

The rose geranium, Pelargonium capitatum, is the birthday flower for this day. When bruised, the leaves exude a rose-like scent. In the language of flowers, it stands for preference.

ART SUNDAY - PIETER BRUEGHEL

"One kind word can warm three winter months."
- Japanese Proverb

A single painting for this week’s Art Sunday, Pieter Brueghel’s “Hunters in the Snow” of 1565. Oil on canvas, 46 inches x 63.75 inches. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.

And here is a poem inspired by the painting:

Hunters in the Snow: Brueghel
By Joseph Langland

Quail and rabbit hunters with tawny hounds,
Shadowless, out of late afternoon
Trudge toward the neutral evening of indeterminate form
Done with their blood-annunciated day
Public dogs and all the passionless mongrels
Through deep snow
Trail their deliberate masters
Descending from the upper village home in lovering light.
Sooty lamps
Glow in the stone-carved kitchens.

This is the fabulous hour of shape and form
When Flemish children are gray-black-olive
And green-dark-brown
Scattered and skating informal figures
On the mill ice pond.
Moving in stillness
A hunched dame struggles with her bundled sticks,
Letting her evening's comfort cudgel her
While she, like jug or wheel, like a wagon cart
Walked by lazy oxen along the old snowlanes,
Creeps and crunches down the dusky street.
High in the fire-red dooryard
Half unhitched the sign of the Inn
Hangs in wind
Tipped to the pitch of the roof.
Near it anonymous parents and peasant girl,
Living like proverbs carved in the alehouse walls,
Gather the country evening into their arms
And lean to the glowing flames.
Now in the dimming distance fades
The other village; across the valley
Imperturbable Flemish cliffs and crags
Vaguely advance, close in, loom
Lost in nearness. Now
The night-black raven perched in branching boughs
Opens its early wing and slipping out
Above the gray-green valley
Weaves a net of slumber over the snow-capped homes.

And now the church, and then the walls and roofs
Of all the little houses are become
Close kin to shadow with small lantern eyes.
And now the bird of evening
With shadows streaming down from its gliding wings
Circles the neighboring hills
Of Hertogenbosch, Brabant.
Darkness stalks the hunters,
Slowly sliding down,
Falling in beating rings and soft diagonals.
Lodged in the vague vast valley the village sleeps.


And here is Kyung-Wha Chung who plays and conducts Vivaldi's “Winter” from the Four Seasons, with a group of young musicians she herself got together and trained. Filmed in 1997.