ANTONIO VIVALDI
Maestro di'concerti
Maestro di Violino
After spending a few years as the maestro di violino Vivaldi took a short leave of absence (the board voted to dismiss him because their relationship was strained), then returned to the Ospedale as the maestro di’concerti (because the board realized his necessity). Moving up in the ranks Vivaldi was rewarded with more oportunity to compose; at this time he developed mastery for concertos, and began to have his pieces presented throughout Venice. His presence in the opera houses due to this and his teaching, led to his future involvement in the composition of Operas.
In early 18th-century Venice, opera was the most popular form of musical entertainment, and as a result it was the most profitable for Vivaldi. He wrote 50 known operas, and is associated with upwards of 94. His circulation of his own operas led to Vivaldi's exit from the Conservatorio dell'Ospedale Della Pietà and Venice, which subsequently resulted in his later life.
Antonio Vivaldi was a master of concertos, and was a predominant figure in the development of that composition style. Vivaldi brightened the formal and rhythmic structure of the concerto, in which he looked for harmonic contrasts and innovative melodies and themes; many of his compositions are flamboyant, almost playful, and exuberant. Concertos, consisting of contrite melody, typically written for small string compositions, were growing popular in Venice. This was due to their generally light airy sound (often attributed to Vivaldi), and limited complexity in part of the listener's ear. Concertos made Baroque composition more accessible to the Venetian population.
Opera Composition
Concerto
Composition
Antonio Vivaldi's middle life
was characterized by his musical and compositional career in the Ospedali. Vivaldi had, at this point in his life, accomplished a lot. After being ordained he went directly into the profession of Violinist and Composer (only presiding over mass a few times, in which he would occasionally leave to write down the music that came to mind while preaching). As a composer he wrote over 60 sonatas, and was regarded as the master of concertos (he boasted he could write one, in full length, in under five minutes). Antonio then expanded his career to Opera.
Vivaldi began his career in the Ospedale Della Pietà at the age of 25 as the maestro di violino. In obtaining this position he was paid a sizable amount more than his predecessors, pertaining to his already present reputation. The ospedale, which was famous for its fostering of many gifted musicians (typically orphaned girls) predominantly on violin, meant that Vivaldi's position as maestro di violin was an astounding accomplishment. He then encountered positions as teacher of viola all'inglese, and maestro di coro. The later proved to be very demanding and attributed to his leave of absence.
