Recorder Concerto in C Major, RV 443 - Largo

Learn Vivaldi's expressive style
Develop Italian Baroque ornamentation
Master slow concerto movement character

About This Piece

Composer: Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Difficulty: Early Intermediate

Notes Used: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C (high), D (high), E (high)

Time Signature: 3/4

Key: C Major

Fingering Review

Full Movement (Simplified)

A beautiful slow movement showcasing Vivaldi's gift for long, singing melodies. Imagine an opera aria transcribed for recorder.

Practice Tips

Largo character: Very slow, broad, and expressive - take your time
Operatic style: Vivaldi was an opera composer - play this like an aria
Ornamentation: Consider adding trills, turns, or grace notes
Dynamics: Use generous dynamic contrasts for dramatic effect

Practice Exercises

Review the C Major scale.

Shape the noble opening gesture.

Practice sustaining tone on half notes.

Work on the graceful ascent.

Master the final closing gesture.

Historical Context

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), known as "The Red Priest" due to his red hair and ordained priesthood, was one of the most influential Baroque composers. He wrote over 500 concertos, including numerous works for recorder. The Concerto in C Major, RV 443, is one of his many recorder concertos, showcasing his gift for memorable melodies and vivid orchestral writing. The Largo (slow) movement demonstrates Vivaldi's operatic background - he was a successful opera composer in Venice, and his instrumental slow movements often resemble opera arias. This movement's long, singing lines and expressive character make it perfect for developing beautiful tone and expressive phrasing. Vivaldi understood the recorder perfectly, writing music that exploits its sweet tone in the middle register while providing opportunities for virtuosic display in faster movements.

Performance Goal: Play with a warm, operatic quality, as if the recorder were a soprano voice singing an aria. Shape each phrase expressively, use generous dynamics, and consider adding tasteful ornaments on repeated notes or at cadences. Let the music breathe and sing!

Next Steps

Once you can play this movement confidently, try:

Adding Italian Baroque ornaments (trills, mordents, turns)
Experimenting with vibrato on long notes
Learning faster movements from Vivaldi concertos
Exploring other Vivaldi recorder works
Comparing Vivaldi's style with Telemann and Bach