Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741)

How to say the name:

‘Vivaldi’ is said like Vi-val-dee. ‘Antonio’ is said like ‘An-toe-nee-o’.

Born:

4th March 1678 in Venice, Italy.

Died:

28th July 1741 in Venice.

Buried:

Unknown pauper’s (poor person’s) grave in the Hospital Burial Ground in Vienna.

Type of Music:

Classical music from the baroque period.

Some famous (and great) pieces:
  • The Four Seasons (a series of four violin concertos). (see below for a video.)
  • Gloria (for choir and orchestra). (see below for a video.)
The Sort of Music he Wrote:
  • Over 500 concertos, almost half of which are for violin.
  • 46 operas.
  • Music for choir and orchestra for the church.
  • A number of pieces for a single or small number of instruments.
Some interesting facts:
  • He became an ordained priest in 1703.
  • He worked for many years at a girls’ school. So a lot of his music was actually written for school girls to play! (Imagine having a music teacher like that!!)
  • Bach was a great fan of Vivaldi’s.
  • His music is often very bright and cheerful.
  • He was a very good violin player (violinist).
  • He made a lot of money in his life, but died very poor.
  • Some of his music is lost, but new pieces keep being discovered all the time!

Here is a video of part of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Which season do you think this music is about?

Sixth movement from Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons’

(Answer: summer.)

And here is a video of Vivaldi’s Gloria.

Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’

Choose another composer of classical music.
Picture credits:
  1. Antonio Vivaldi. This picture is by François Morellon de la Cave from 1725. The image is in the public domain. Click here for the source of this image, along with the relevant copyright information.
Video credits:
  1. Vivaldi Four Seasons – I Musici 1988. Summer excerpt. This is the third movement of Summer, Presto.
  2. musica intima & Pacific Baroque Orchestra – Vivaldi’s Gloria. musica intima & Pacific Baroque Orchestra sing Vivaldi’s Gloria www.musicaintima.org.