Great Music - La Folia 3

As we continue our traversal of the Spanish dance tune, La Folia, through the ages, I hope that the glorious music you’ve been hearing makes up for my brief, inadequate explanations.  I’m especially happy to share with you one of my two favorite Folia compositions:  Vivaldi’s Trio Sonata in D Minor.

Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice in 1678.  He was baptized immediately after his birth, leading some to believe that his lifelong ill health was congenital.  His father was Giovanni Vivaldi, an accomplished violinist who was the young Antonio’s first teacher (Giovanni was prominent enough as a musician to have been the founder of a musical society under the patronage of St. Cecilia).  Antonio’s talent was immediately evident, and as a young child he gave concerts with his father in Venice.  The boy also studied composition under Giovanni Legrenzi, the maestro di cappella at St. Mark's Basilica.  From his youth, Vivaldi suffered from ill health (the accounts of which, have led some scholars to believe he suffered from severe asthma.)  His health, however, does not seem to have prevented his musical studies.

At the age of fifteen, Vivaldi’s life took another turn when he began studying for the priesthood.  He was ordained at twenty-five, but was very soon after relieved of most of his priestly duties, due to his health.  He remained a priest, however, for the rest of his life.  Vivaldi’s vocation, along with his hereditary red hair, led to his enduring nickname, the “Red Priest.”

His musical career flourished and in 1703, he became the violin master at an orphanage called the Pio Ospedale della Pietà (Devout Hospital of Mercy).  Vivaldi’s duties included teaching the orphans music and composition.  Many of his famous concertos were written to showcase the talents of himself and his pupils.  He also composed a good deal of religious music.  Vivaldi’s reputation spread throughout Europe, especially as composer of violin music (his own technique was masterful and ground-breaking).  He also enjoyed some success as an opera composer and his works were staged in Venice, Florence and Vienna.

In 1717, Vivaldi accepted the prestigious post of Maestro di Cappella in Mantua.  It was during this period that he composed his most famous work, The Four Seasons, a quartet of virtuoso violin concertos, depicting each of the seasons of the year.  As he got older, Vivaldi’s music fell out of favor as the Classical époque overtook the Baroque.  Vivaldi died in 1741 in Vienna.  Vivaldi was the subject of renewed interest (although his greatest music was never out of the repertoire) in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, which secured his place as one of the great composers.

Vivaldi’s Trio Sonata is for two violins and basso continuo.  Like most Folia compositions, it is a set of variations, which uses Corelli’s Sonata as its touchstone.  But in Vivaldi’s hands, it all becomes new and exciting.  Take note of the variation that begins at 6:45, although the tempo is a little fast here, it is one of those miniature gems that will melt your heart, full of beauty and longing.  Enjoy!