Antonio Vivaldi

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Venezia, Italy (1678 – 1741)

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was a Venetian composer in the baroque era.

Vivaldi was born on 4th March 1678 in the Republic of Venice, today part of Italy; his father was Giovanni Battista, a baker before becoming a professional violinist, who taught his son to play violin. They subsequently toured Venice playing violin together. Vivaldi suffered from what was called “chest tightening” which might have been asthma; this did not, however, prevent him from learning to play the violin, composing and taking part in the prescribed musical activities. At the age of fifteen he began studying priesthood,for this was a vow made by his mother. In 1703, at the age of twenty-five, he was ordained, and was soon nicknamed “Il Prete Rosso” (The Red Priest), probably because of his red hair.

Not long afterwards, in 1704, he was given a dispensation from celebrating the Mass because of his ill health. In late 1706 he withdrew from the priesthood and became maestro di violino at an orphanage for girls called the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice. But rumor has it that once he left during Mass, feeling the urge to compose and was given the permission to be released by the cardinal of the Church upon his request to teach music.

Shortly after his appointment, the orphans began to gain appreciation and esteem abroad, too; Vivaldi wrote for them many concertos and cantatas, sacred music and any other works the orphanage might need. In 1705, the first collection of his works was published, followed by many others. At the orphanage he covered several different duties, only interrupting them for his many travels.
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