Composer: Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Difficulty: Late Intermediate
Notes Used: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C (high), D (high), E (high), F (high)
Key: C Major (modulating to A minor)
Movement: II. Largo
Vivaldi's lyrical opening with singing quality over steady bass.
Exploration of the relative minor with expressive chromatic touches.
Return to C Major with opportunities for improvised embellishments.
Practice Italian-style trills, mordents, and improvised divisions.
Practice improvising on final cadence (traditional in Vivaldi concertos).
Develop smooth, singing tone across the range.
Practice messa di voce (crescendo-diminuendo) on long notes.
Vivaldi's Concerto in C Major, RV 443, is one of his most beloved recorder concertos. The Largo movement exemplifies Vivaldi's gift for lyrical melodic writing, influenced by his work as a violin teacher and composer of operas. This movement should be performed as an instrumental aria - the recorder "singing" over the sparse accompaniment. In Vivaldi's time, soloists were expected to ornament and improvise, particularly at cadences where a brief cadenza was traditional. The movement's exploration of C Major and A minor demonstrates Vivaldi's harmonic sophistication. Written for the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice (a girls' orphanage where Vivaldi taught), this concerto showcases the high level of musical achievement possible on the recorder.