Updated 19 March 2008
Vivaldi, Unfinished Concerto in C major
Vivaldi, Unfinished Concerto in D minor
Vivaldi, Concerto in F major, RV 490, Op. 40 #25 F. VIII, #32
The concerto included in this publication is catalogued under the
following:
Concerto for Bassoon, Strings and Continuo in Cmajor
RR0015 RV 468, Op. 40 #17, F. 294, C Major Unfinished(2 mvts.)x
The concerto is not included in the complete works of Vivaldi and
appearshere for the first time. For reasons unknown, the movements were
completedbut the additional movements were not written. In the case of
the slowmovement, no strings parts were written and through some
analysis, onecan see that Antonio was somewhat at a loss here for
smooth harmonic continuity.While the fast movement contains the nice
idiomatic style found in thebulk of
Vivaldi's concerti, it remains among his lesser work in terms of
formand melodic inventivness. It is however, worthy of performance and
shouldfind a place on recitals and in bassoonists' studios.
Antonio Vivaldi was born circa 1675 in the city of Venice, Italy
anddied in July of 1741. His father was a musician in San
MarcoCathedral located a few short blocks from the Ospedale dalla
Pieta(hospital of mercy). Following
studies with his father and the well-known Legrenzi, he was employedby
the Ospedale first as an ordained Priest and later as the headof
all music education in the church. The Ospedale stands today
inmuch the same condition as it existed during the time of
Vivaldi. It was, and remains a mercy hospital run by the
Catholic church. In the beginning it was intended as an
institution for abandoned, disfiguredand unwanted women and girls.
Grisly evidence of this is the iron gridwork which covers both choir
lofts so as to hide those therein. Thegirls were students of
music and were the performers of Vivaldi'smusic.
The concerto included in this publication is cataloguedunder the following:
Concerto for Bassoon, Strings and Continuo in Dminor
RV 482, Op. 40 #16, F. 290, DMinor Unfinished
The concerto is not included in the complete works of Vivaldi
and appears here for the first time. For reasons unknown,
the movement was completed but the additional movements were not
written. While this fast movement contains the nice
idiomatic style found in thebulk of Vivaldi's concerti, it remains
among his lesser work in termsof form and melodic inventiveness.
It is however, worthy of performanceand should find a place on recitals
and in bassoonists' studios.
Antonio Vivaldi was born circa 1675 in the city of Venice, Italyand died
in July of 1741. His father was a musician in San Marco Cathedrallocated a
few short blocks from the Ospedale dalla Pieta (hospital of mercy).
Following studies with his father and the celebrated composer Legrenzi,he
was employed by the Ospedale first as an ordained Priest and lateras the
head of music education at the church. The Ospedale stands todayin much the
same condition as it existed during the time of Vivaldi. It was,and remains
a mercy hospital run by the Catholic church. In the beginning it wasan
institution for abandoned, disfigured and unwanted women and girls. Evidence
of this is the iron gridwork which conceals both choir lofts wherethey
performed. The women were students of music and performed Vivaldi'smusic.
The concerto included in this publication is catalogued under the following:
Concerto for Bassoon, Strings and Continuo in fmajor
RV 490, Fviii #32, Op. 40 #25
This concerto is scored for the usual baroque String Orchestra withContinuo
except for the slow movement which is for Continuo and Bassoon alone.
I wish to acknowledge my brother Jesse who provided the MS, Thom Zantow's,
THE BASSOONISTS GUIDE TO VIVALDI, published in the IDRS Journal in1979
(sent to me by Ron Klimko, bassoon edi tor) and the DMA thesis, REALIZINGA
PERFORMING EDITION OF VIVALDI'S BASSOON CONCERTOS, written by GeorgeAdams
and published by University Microfilms International.