| Antonio Vivaldi is an Italian composer and violinist. | | | | great success. From then on, Vivaldi became |
| He was born March 4, 1678 in Venice, Italy. He is | | | | important in the Venetian opera world. |
| major figure in baroque music and exercised a | | | | In 1718, Vivaldi was offered a job in the city of |
| considerable influence on the development of the | | | | Mantua. For three years, Vivaldi worked as one of |
| concerto. Antonio Vivaldi was the first child of his | | | | the Prince Philip's court musicians, composing many |
| family. He was born with chest illness and wasn't | | | | secular instrumental works. He left Mantua in 1720, |
| expected to live long. He survived, but remained | | | | but continued to write music for the prince. During |
| very weak throughout his life. Antonio grew up in | | | | his time in Mantua, he produced more operas. He |
| Venice. His father Giovanni realized that his son | | | | fame had now spread beyond Venice, and was |
| was very musical and taught him to play the violin | | | | asked to compose operas for other popular cities |
| at a young age. Antonio Vivaldi was trained in the | | | | such as Milan and Florence. Vivaldi also became |
| priesthood in 1693 and was ordained in 1703. His | | | | popular in Rome for his violin playing and opera. He |
| first known performance was in 1696. Within a | | | | was invited to the Vatican to perform for the |
| year after Vivaldi's ordination, he stopped | | | | pope. At this time he was still working for the |
| practicing Mass. He claimed this was because of | | | | Pieta however; they were upset that there |
| his poor health, while others believed he quit | | | | maestro was not there. They agreed that Vivaldi |
| because he was forced into becoming a priest at | | | | would have to write two works for them each |
| such a young age. | | | | month. |
| Six months after he was ordained in 1703, Vivaldi | | | | Throughout the next few centuries Vivaldi |
| was appointed as the maestro de violin at | | | | published many musical works. His goal was to |
| theOspedale Della Pieta, an orphanage in Venice. | | | | entertain audiences rather than express himself in |
| Their purpose at the Pieta was to give shelter | | | | some deep personal way. However, as time went |
| and to provide education and musical training. The | | | | on, he grew more and more out of touch with |
| Pieta was famous for its music. During Vivaldi's | | | | Venice. The musical taste had changed and the |
| time many girls were described as the best in | | | | people focused on other composers. Vivaldi |
| Italy. The girls would put on performances to | | | | became less popular. He did not write another |
| raise money for the Pieta. Vivaldi soon became | | | | opera for over four years. Audiences abroad still |
| well-known in Venice as a promising young | | | | enjoyed Vivaldi's work, which is why he traveled |
| composer. He spent many years at the Pieta | | | | so much. In 1740, Vivaldi had one final triumph at |
| however; in 1709 he was asked to leave. Vivaldi | | | | the Pieta with a grand gala concert. He then |
| returned to the Pieta as a violin teacher in | | | | decided to leave Venice for good. He began |
| September of 1711. He worked for the Pieta on | | | | raising money for his last journey. |
| and off for the next 40 years. Throughout the | | | | Vivaldi shortly became a forgotten composer. |
| years he changed positions from a violin teacher, | | | | New composers quickly took his place in the |
| to a church composer and all the way to the | | | | music world. Vivaldi was however, rediscovered |
| director of music. Vivaldi's music was new and | | | | later by J.S Bach, who composed numbers of his |
| exciting. It was also unique in style. He liked to | | | | songs for the keyboard. Vivaldi died of internal |
| created vigorous rhythms. This gave his work a | | | | inflammation and was buried on July 28, 1741. He |
| feeling of freshness and energy. Vivaldi was by | | | | suffered all his life with a chest illness. This did not |
| now a great virtuoso violinist and admired among | | | | stop him from composing a vast amount of |
| many. He began to compose different kinds of | | | | music. He claimed to have written 94 operas. He |
| music that was becoming more popular in Venice. | | | | also wrote secular cantatas and many church |
| This music was opera. | | | | works for chorus, soloists, and orchestra. His |
| When Vivaldi wasn't working at the Pieta, he was | | | | instrumental, however, is the most admired, |
| composing music for the theater. Vivaldi realized | | | | nearly 500 concertos. "He is known for fast |
| that he could make more money composing | | | | movements with vigorous, tuneful themes and |
| operas. He then decided to take a month's leave | | | | impassioned, lyrical slow movements. |
| and start composing one. His first opera produced | | | | |