㈠ 我要一篇纯英文的古典音乐介绍+翻译
英文版在此：
Introction to Classical Music
Classical music is probably more familiar than we might at first imagine. Indeed, nowadays it is all around us, whether it be in restaurants, supermarkets, lifts, for advertising or as theme and incidental music on television. A great deal of film music either directly uses or draws from the 'classical' tradition; a good example of the former might be '2001: Space Odyssey', and of the latter, the many scores John Williams has composed in recent years for such blockbusters as the Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogies.
In the vast and wide-ranging world of 'classical' music there is truly something there for everyone - pieces which once discovered represent the start of an exciting and irresistible journey which will provide a lifetime's listening pleasure. For example, those who are particularly excited by hearing instrumentalists working at full stretch will thrill to the likes of Liszt and Paganini, or if something a little more reserved and self-contained is required, the chamber music of Haydn or Mozart would be a good starting point. If a full symphony orchestra in overdrive is more to your taste then Tchaikovsky or Richard Strauss could well fit the bill, whereas those who have already warmed to Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' might well try the music of some of the great Italian's contemporaries such as Handel, Johann Sebastian Bach or Domenico Scarlatti. Whatever your tastes may be, there has never been a better time to start building a 'classical' music collection on CD.
Any attempt to define what is meant literally by the term 'classical' music is fraught with difficulty. How does one encapsulate in just a few words a musical tradition which encompasses such infinite varieties of style and expression, from the monastic intonings of Gregorian chant to the laid-back jazz inflections of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, from the elegant poise of Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik to the despairing, heightened emotionalism of Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique" Symphony? One is treading on very dangerous ground indeed if one pre-supposes that it is simply 'superior' to other musical types such as popular, jazz, rock and the like, let alone the music of other cultures.
In general 'popular' music may be as clear in expression as the longer examples of 'classical' music. One important difference, however, lies in the logical connection that exists in 'classical ' music between the beginning and end, with the latter a logical extension and development of the former. 'Popular' music, on the other hand, tends to present its material without development, the music ending when interest is exhausted.
Sadly, whilst 'classical' music is socially undivisive in itself, it has unfortunately become associated in most people's minds with the intellectual elite. Even now, and with certain honourable exceptions, the attending of a 'live' concert can be an intimidating (not to say costly) experience for the uninitiated, especially in that most jealously guarded of establishments, the opera house. The wonderful thing about the technological age in which we live, and particularly the advent of the compact disc, is that we can bypass all irrelevant social and intellectual pretence, and enjoy in the comfort of our own home (often at far less cost) some of the finest music ever composed.
With such a breathtaking variety of material available, it is an awesome task to know just where to begin your disc collection, and as a result expensive mistakes are often made as tempting looking purchases turn out to be something of a disappointment. This is where the Naxos catalogue really comes into its own, and where it is hoped this guide will help prospective purchasers to make an informed choice about the kind of music they are likely to enjoy.
The Naxos label provides a library of high quality performances of music by the great masters in modern digital sound; accompanied by authoritative and user-friendly booklet notes and at the lowest possible price. There are already nearly 600 titles from which to choose, and with new releases emerging at the rate of about eight every month, even the enthusiastic collector is well and truly catered for. With every historical period and genre covered, there is something in the Naxos catalogue for everyone, especially those who wish to build a truly representative collection of the central masterworks in the 'classical' tradition.
㈡ 英语作文 my fourite music instrument
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. Widely used in Western music for solo performance, ensemble use, chamber music, and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal. Although not portable and often expensive, the piano's versatility and ubiquity have made it one of the most familiar musical instruments.
钢琴是通过多种键盘方式来表演的乐器，在西方音乐中以独版奏，合奏，室内音乐及伴奏权的方式广泛应用。它也受欢迎于辅助作曲和排练。尽管它不方便携带并且价格昂贵，但钢琴以它的多功能性及普及性成为人们最熟悉的乐器。
㈢ 传统音乐的英语作文
Music could be created in any place when you have inspiration.At most times,we enjoy music like symphonic music.Even pop music,there is needn't to understand what are they wanting to tell us.We just need to hear it carefully.Therefore,music shouldn't have national boundaries.
According to my personal experience,music has a more positive effect on our life.When we are in a blue mood,we could listen to some foreigner song.Such as,My Love,the Funeral of Hearts and Close to the flame etc.The music is that we needn't to realize what are they singing.When you listen to their rhythm and style,you will feel your heart be touched and shake in a blue mood.Then,you will be enlightened and acquire power.
㈣ 急求西方音乐史简介的英文版
History
[edit] Before 1800
The first studies of Western musical history date back to the middle of the 18th century. G.B. Martini published a three volume history titled Storia della musica (History of Music) between 1757 and 1781. Martin Gerbert published a two volume history of sacred music titled De cantu de musica sacra in 1774. Gerbert followed this work with a three volume work Scriptores ecclesiastici de musica sacra containing significant writings on sacred music from the third century AD onwards in 1784.
[edit] 1800-1950
In the twentieth century, the work of Johannes Wolf and others developed studies in Medieval music and early Renaissance music. Wolf's writings on the history of musical notation are considered to be particularly notable by musicologists. Historical musicology has played a critical role in renewed interest in Baroque music as well as medieval and Renaissance music. In particular, the authentic performance movement owes much to historical musicological scholarship. Towards the middle of the twentieth century, musicology (and its largest subfield of historical musicology) expanded significantly as a field of study. Concurrently the number of musicological and music journals increased to create further outlets for the publication of research. The domination of German language scholarship ebbed as significant journals sprang up throughout the West, especially America.
答案补充 According to Richard Middleton, the strongest criticism of (historical) musicology has been that it by and large ignores popular music. Though musicological study of popular music has vastly increased in quantity recently, Middleton's assertion in 1990-- that most major "works of musicology, theoretical or historical, act as though popular music did not exist" -- holds true. 答案补充 Academic and conservatory training typically only peripherally addresses this broad spectrum of musics, and many (historical) musicologists who are "both contemptuous and condescending are looking for types of proction, musical form, and listening which they associate with a different kind of music...'classical music'...and they generally find popular music lacking" 答案补充 He cites three main aspects of this problem (p.104-6). The terminology of historical musicology is "slanted by the needs and history of a particular music ('classical music')." He acknowledges that "there is a rich vocabulary for certain areas [harmony, tonality, certain part-writing and forms], important in musicology's typical corpus";
㈤ 求一篇关于古典音乐与现代音乐的英语作文
What instruments are played?
When is the music played?
Who writes the songs?
What are the songs about?
Music is an important part of the Chinese people’ life.
Traditional Chinese music is played with traditional instruments such as the pipa, erhu, suona, guzheng, huqin, etc. The songs are mainly about love, life and news. Some songs tell us legends long long ago. And they are often handed down from generation to generation. In the past, the best chance to hear it was ring a festival or at a wedding.
Modern Chinese music, on the other hand, is played with drums, guitars and keyboard. Some songs also use traditional instruments as well. The young musicians and stars write new songs and people can enjoy them all the time over the radio, on TV or even in the street.
One thing that hasn’t changed very much is that they both are about love and life. Whether they change or not, our love for music and life never changes.
㈥ 求一篇介绍欧洲音乐发展的英语作文
1.Everyone has a dream. Now I'll talk about my dream. What is my dream I often ask myself. To my mind, everyone should have his own dream.
So we have a goal to realize it, I think we don't blindness at least.
My dream is become a successful actor helping the sick and saving their lives. Of course, to be a good doctor. It’s very difficult. But I will by all means to keep everyone healthy. That's my dream. I want to try my best to help the poor sick people of our country. I want to let them have an opportunity to receive excel-lent treatments for their illnesses without having to pay much or any money. China is a develop-ing country. She needs good medicine and good doctors, especially in the countryside and lonely villages.
Now I’m a junior Grade One student, all my classmates and I are working hard, we all know the entrance exam of high schools which will come in the year of 2011 is a big problem for us. We must study harder and harder in order to go to a good high school, then when we finish our school, we can go to a good university. Finally we can find a good job in society. My dream is also that. Although now I’m good at study, I’ll try my best to be the study winer. Now everything I do all is close to my dream. I fell the life is fill with hope and colorful, and have enough confidence to realize it.
I know fantasy is hard to come true, but dream can. I’ll work hard for my dreams,I’ll never give up.
每个人都有一个梦想，现在我来讲讲我的梦想，我的梦想是什么喃？我总是告诉自己，每个人都需要有自己的梦想，因此，我们有一个目标去实现它，我想我们至少没有失去方向，我的梦想是成为一名成功的演员，帮助病人和挽救他们的生命，当然，那是做一名出色的医生，这是很困难的，但我会采取一切手段让每个人都健康，这就是我的梦想，我要尽我所能帮助我国的穷病人，我希望让他们有机会接受不需交纳疾病治疗过多或任何款项，中国是发展中国家，她需要良好的医药，农村特别是在偏僻的农村，我现在是一名学生，所有的学科我都会非常努力，我们都知道高中，他们将在2011年的高考，是我们一个很大的问题，我们要努力学习为了去一个好高中，然后当我们完成我们的学业，我们能走进好的大学，
最后，我们可以找到一个良好的社会工作。我的梦想，是因为他。虽然现在我善于学习，我会尽我最大努力，现在，我所做的一切都接近我的梦想。我摔倒，我的生活充满希望，丰富多彩的，有足够的信心去实现它。 我知道幻想是很难成真，但梦能实现。我要工作，我的梦想努力，我永远不会放弃
2.I am sick，I still have a life span of three days， But I still have a lot of things to do，Only three days, I must seize the moment，I gave up those important things，Now I want to do the most have Four，First, in this day, I sleep with my mother in every day , and say good night to my family ，Because I love my family too，In the remaining time, I will certainly do so, I do not want to leave their.Second, I would like to cook for my parents，Because I never cook eat to their， They will be happy to eat my food, even if that something is not good.Third, I would like to go to the seasideand with my best friends， No matter, I will
very tired，I have to do it，That is the commitment between friends.Fourth, I'm going to my alma mater And I will chat to teachers，I would like say thanks to my teachers. I hope I can accomplish these things，It is sufficient.People have a heart of thanksgiving，Thanksgiving things done, there will be no regrets in life.Finally, I hope my family 、 friends and teachers have a healthy body
我生病了， 我还有三天的寿命了，可是我还有很多事要做，只有三天了，我必须抓紧时间，我放弃了那些不重要的事，现在我最想做的事有4件，第一我要每天睡在妈妈身边，每天和家人说晚安，因为我太爱我的家人了，在剩下的时间里，我一定要这样做，我很不想离开他们。第二，我要做饭给我的父母吃，他们会很乐意吃我做的食物，即使，那东西不好吃。第三，我要和我最好的朋友去海边，就算会很累，我也无所谓，我一定要去，那是朋友间的承诺。第四，我要去我的母校，和老师聊天，感谢他们，我希望我能完成这些事，那就做够了，人要有感恩之心，感恩的事做完，人生就没有遗憾了，最后，希望我的家人朋友老师身体健康。
3.My best friend and I get along with each other quite well. But we are so different. He is funnier, more outgoing than I am and i'm more serious. He is more athletic and likes to play all kinds of sports but I am smarter on study. My friend is wilder than me and I am calmer. He is tall, thin, strong,with short hair, And sometimes he is very careless and lazy. On the other hands, I am short, fat, weak, with shorthair. He is very helpful because I am very lazy and don't want to do any sports. And I will help him with his study.
I think our friendship will last forever.
我和我最好的朋友相处的非常好，但是我们却各有不同。他比我更有趣，更外向，而我很严肃。他是运动型的，各种体育运动都很喜欢，而我更擅长于学习。
我的朋友相对狂野而我相对沉静。他又高又瘦，但是很结实，留着短发。一些时候他马虎又懒散。与他相比，我显得矮胖，而虚弱。我也是短头发。他很乐于助人，因为我很懒不想做仍和运动。我会在学习上帮助他。我希望我们的友谊能够持续到永远
4.My School
I study in the No. I middle school, where there are three grades and thirty-two classes. It is not big but very beautiful.
In the center of the school there is a new teaching building, which is very clean and beautiful. The lab building and the library are to the east of the new building. There all kinds of book in the library. You can enioy them as many as you like.
South of the new building lies a playground and it's very big. On the playground, you can have sports such as football. basketball. You'd better play basketball as there are four basketball grounds in our school, You can enjoy yourself very much.
There are many trees in our school.Grass is everywhere. In front of the new building there are two gardens in which, there are flowers of all colours.
We are studying hard in our school, Our life is happy and intcrcsting. I love our school very much.
我的学校
我就读于一中。学校有3个年级，32个班，它并不大，但是很漂亮。
校园中央是新建成的干净、美丽的教学大楼。实验楼和图书楼在新楼的东侧。图书馆有各种各样的书，你可以随意阅读。操场在新楼的南边，它很大，你可以在操场上做你喜欢的运动，如足球、篮球。你最好打篮球——因为学校共有四块篮球场地——你一定会玩得十分尽兴。
学校种了许多树木，草坪随处可见。新楼的前面有两个花园；园里的鲜花五颜六色。
我们学习刻苦，生活愉快而有趣。我爱我们的学校。
5.My hobby is lisetening to music.
I like listening to music best.Because listening to music makes me relaxed.When I am tired,I will listening some quiet music,that makes me fall asleep very quickly.My favorite music is the music that has good lyrics.Good lyrics can also make me learn Chinese or English well
I love listening to music.I will keep this hobby forever。
我的爱好是听音乐。 我喜欢最好听到音乐。由于听到音乐做我放松了。当我疲乏，我意志听一些安静的音乐，牌子我非常迅速睡着。我喜爱的音乐是有好抒情诗的音乐。好抒情诗可能也使我学会中文或英语好我喜爱听到音乐。我永远将保留这个爱
6.I and Olympic Games Olympic Games is window, I keep watch. This is a maximum window, had been rubbed bright. Through it, those that see are worlds. Here, it is changing every day, here burgeoning thing is being replaced. Have only me, this loyalty keep watch, it is paying attention to it every day, hopes to know it more. Olympic Games is crossing, I am pedestrian. There are many persons who pass here every day, there is Asian, have European, there is old person, have child. Here is traffic fort, joins the friend of all corners of the country. I pass the one of persons of hundreds of millions of here merely, cross it, go to another world. Olympic Games is Holy Land, I am volunteer. This is the land with pure flat, has holy fire from start to finish to accompany in side. Just because it is so, I pay out voluntarily for it, I will let my strength, let this slice of land more clean, let more ones know it, is also willing to devote oneself to it as me. I still help to the person who comes to here, let them enjoy the happiness of this slice of Holy Land. Olympic Games is platform, I am host. It has put up platform for us , lets world know us; It has built bridge for us , lets us and world link up better. This platform may let us display self wantonly. I am the host of here, I am proud to be the host of here. I will let the friendship of landlord, let guest experience enthusiasm and happiness. 我与奥运 奥运是窗口，我是守望者。 这是一扇极大的窗，被擦得明亮。透过它，看到的是世界。这里每天都在变，这里每天都有新兴事物在更替。只有我，这个忠诚的守望者，每天都在关注它，希望更多地了解它。 奥运是路口，我是行人。 每天路过这里的人很多，有亚洲人、有欧洲人，有老人、有孩子。这儿是交通要塞，连接着五湖四海的朋友。我只是路过这里的亿万人之一，穿过它，到另一个世界去。 奥运是圣地，我是志愿者。 这是片圣洁的土地，自始至终都有圣火在旁边陪伴。正因为这样，我自愿为它付出，我要尽我的力量让这片土地更加洁净，让更多人了解它，也像我一样愿意献身于它。我还要给来这里的人予以帮助，让他们享受这片圣地的快乐。 奥运是平台，我是主人。 它为我们搭起了平台，让世界了解我们；它为我们建造了桥梁，让我们与世界更好地沟通。这个平台可以让我们尽情展现自己。我是这里的主人，我为是这里的主人自豪。我要尽地主之谊，让来客感受到热情与欢乐。
7.I love my family,because I have a happy family.
My father is an English teacher.His name is Jacky.He is thirty-eight.He likes playing basketball.What’s my mother jopIs she a teacherYes,you’re right!My mother is very kind and nice,she is thirty-seven.My mother is always laborious work.I love my parents!
On Staurday and Sunday,I often go to the library and play the piano,My father go to play basketball.Sometimes,we watch TV and listen to music at home.
I love my family.Because I’m very happy to live with my parents together!
我爱我的家庭,因为我有一个快乐的家庭.
我的爸爸是一名英语教师,他的名字叫Jacky.他今年38岁.他非常喜欢打篮球.我的妈妈是赶什么呢她是一名教师吗是的.你说对了!我的妈妈是一个很亲切、友善的人,她今年37岁.我妈妈总是勤劳的干活.我爱我的父母.
在星期六和星期天里,我经常去图书馆和弹钢琴.我爸爸去打篮球.有时侯,我们都在家看电视和听音乐.
我爱我家.因为我和爸爸妈妈一起生活得很开心!
补充：
8.Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all constructed boats and left. Except for Love.Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment.When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said,"Richness, can you take me with you"Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. "Vanity, please help me!""I can't help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered.Sadness was close by so Love asked, "Sadness, let me go with you.""Oh . . . Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!"Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her. Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you." It was an elder. So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way. Realizing how much was owed the elder, Love asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who Helped me""It was Time," Knowledge answered."Time" asked Love. "But why did Time help me"Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is." 中文翻译 从前有一个岛，所有的情感都住在那里：幸福、悲伤、知识和所有其它的，爱也不例外。一天，所有的情感听说小岛即将沉没，因此建造小船，纷纷离开，除了爱。
爱是唯一留下来的，因为它希望能坚持到最后一刻。
小岛即将沉没了，爱决定请求帮助。
富有驾着一艘大船从爱身边经过，爱说，“富有，你能带上我么？”
富有回答说：“不行，我的船上载满金银财宝，没有你的地方。”
虚荣坐在漂亮的小船中从爱身边驶过，爱问：“虚荣，你能帮助我么？”
虚荣说：“不行，你全身湿透，会弄脏我的船。”
悲伤的船靠近了，爱问：“悲伤，请带我走吧。”
“哦。。。爱，我太难过了，想一个人呆着。”
幸福经过爱的身边，它太开心了，根本没听见爱在呼唤。
突然，一个声音喊道：“来，爱，我带你走。” 声音来自“年老”。爱太高兴了，甚至忘了问他们即将去何方。当他们来到岸上，年老自己离开了。爱突然意识到“年老”给了它多大的帮助。
于是，爱问另一位老者--知识：“谁帮助了我？”
“时间？”爱问：“但是时间为什么帮助我？”
知识睿智地微笑道：“因为只有时间了解爱的价值。”
9.Had a wonderful time in life when Elderly and young people have different views! The elderly: In the student to have good health, success is very important, and friends can play happy! Young people: for the future to mature, and their to do things their own! scientific and technological progress, work and household chores can be done by robots! good living conditions for people to live longer!
生活中的快乐时光是什么时候老年人和年轻人有着不同的看法! 老年人:在学生时代要身体健康,成绩很重要,可以和朋友快乐的玩耍! 年轻人: 对于未来要成熟,自己的事自己做!科技进步,工作和家务可以由机器人去做!好的生活条件让人长寿!
10.Happiness means different things to different people. For example, some people believe that if they have lots of money, they will be happy. They believe that if they are wealthy, they will be able to do anything they want, which means happiness. On the other hand, some people believe that holding a high position in the government is happiness. In this way, you have not onlymoney, but also many other things which can't be bought by money. However, other people believe that having lots of money is not happiness nor is holding a high position in the government. These people value their beliefs, or their intelligence, or their health. They think these can make them happy. For me, happiness is closely tied to my studies, my work and my family. When I made great progress in my studies, when I made contributions to the society through my work, when all the members in my family live in harmony, sharing good and sad times, I was happy. Although the definition of happiness depends on each indivial my "wealth" of happiness is in my studies, my work, and my family.
幸福,不同的人有不同的理解。举例来说,有些人认为,如果他们有很多的钱,他们会很高兴的。他们认为,如果他们是富有的,他们可以做任何他们想要的东西,这意味着幸福。另一方面,有些人认为举办一个很高的位置在政府的幸福。用这种方法,你没有onlymoney,还有许多其他事情而无法用钱买来的。然而,另一些人认为,有很多的钱是不快乐也持有一个很高的位置在政府。这些人的价值,他们的信仰,或者他们的智力或身体健康。他们认为这可以让他们快乐。对我来说,幸福是密不可分的,我对我的研究工作,我的家人。当我取得了巨大的进步,当我的贡献社会,当所有的成员在我的家人住在和谐、共享好,也有不开心的时候,我很高兴。尽管“幸福”的定义取决于个别我的“财富”的幸福是在我的学习,我的工作,我的家人。
（里面过长的你就自己删点，反正也有翻译咯能看懂勒哈）
㈦ 西方古典音乐史英文介绍
现在所提的西方音乐实际上是从十六世纪末开始,尤其是十七世纪到十八世纪,这一期间,音乐史上称为巴洛克时期.
㈧ 一篇关于"古典音乐和流行音乐"的相同与不同的英语作文
.What instruments are played?
When is the music played?
Who writes the songs?
What are the songs about?
Music is an important part of the Chinese people’ life.
Traditional Chinese music is played with traditional instruments such as the pipa, erhu, suona, guzheng, huqin, etc. The songs are mainly about love, life and news. Some songs tell us legends long long ago. And they are often handed down from generation to generation. In the past, the best chance to hear it was ring a festival or at a wedding.
Modern Chinese music, on the other hand, is played with drums, guitars and keyboard. Some songs also use traditional instruments as well. The young musicians and stars write new songs and people can enjoy them all the time over the radio, on TV or even in the street.
One thing that hasn’t changed very much is that they both are about love and life. Whether they change or not, our love for music and life never changes.
㈨ 西方音乐的英语作文
History
[edit] Before 1800
The first studies of Western musical history date back to the middle of the 18th century. G.B. Martini published a three volume history titled Storia della musica (History of Music) between 1757 and 1781. Martin Gerbert published a two volume history of sacred music titled De cantu de musica sacra in 1774. Gerbert followed this work with a three volume work Scriptores ecclesiastici de musica sacra containing significant writings on sacred music from the third century AD onwards in 1784.
[edit] 1800-1950
In the twentieth century, the work of Johannes Wolf and others developed studies in Medieval music and early Renaissance music. Wolf's writings on the history of musical notation are considered to be particularly notable by musicologists. Historical musicology has played a critical role in renewed interest in Baroque music as well as medieval and Renaissance music. In particular, the authentic performance movement owes much to historical musicological scholarship. Towards the middle of the twentieth century, musicology (and its largest subfield of historical musicology) expanded significantly as a field of study. Concurrently the number of musicological and music journals increased to create further outlets for the publication of research. The domination of German language scholarship ebbed as significant journals sprang up throughout the West, especially America.
According to Richard Middleton, the strongest criticism of (historical) musicology has been that it by and large ignores popular music. Though musicological study of popular music has vastly increased in quantity recently, Middleton's assertion in 1990-- that most major "works of musicology, theoretical or historical, act as though popular music did not exist" -- holds true.Academic and conservatory training typically only peripherally addresses this broad spectrum of musics, and many (historical) musicologists who are "both contemptuous and condescending are looking for types of proction, musical form, and listening which they associate with a different kind of music...'classical music'...and they generally find popular music lacking"He cites three main aspects of this problem (p.104-6). The terminology of historical musicology is "slanted by the needs and history of a particular music ('classical music')." He acknowledges that "there is a rich vocabulary for certain areas [harmony, tonality, certain part-writing and forms], important in musicology's typical corpus";
㈩ 谁能告诉我一些有关于西方古典音乐家的英文介绍啊~~
1.Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (March 4, 1678, Venice – July 28, 1741, Vienna), nicknamed Il Prete Rosso ("The Red Priest"), was an Italian priest and baroque music composer
Biography
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was born on March 4, 1678 in Venice, Italy. He was baptized immediately at his home by the midwife e to danger of death. It is not determined what that means, but it probably referred to the infant's poor health or an earthquake that shook the city that day. Vivaldi's official church baptism did not take place until two months later. His father, Giovanni Battista, a barber before becoming a professional violinist, taught him to play violin at first and then toured Venice playing violin with his son. Vivaldi had a medical problem which he called the tightening of the chest (probably some form of asthma). His medical problem, however, did not prevent him from learning to play the violin, composing and taking part in the prescribed musical activities. At the age of 15 (1693), he began studying to become a priest. In 1703, at the age of 25, Vivaldi was ordained as a priest, soon nicknamed Il Prete Rosso, "The Red Priest," probably because of his red hair.
Not long after, in 1704, he was given a dispensation from celebrating the Holy 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 Pio Ospedale della Pietà in Venice. Shortly after his appointment, the orphans began to gain appreciation and esteem abroad, too; Vivaldi wrote for them most of his concertos, cantatas, and sacred music. In 1705, the first collection (raccolta) of his works was published. Many others would follow. At the orphanage he covered several different ties, only interrupting them for his many travels. In 1709, he was let go for economic reasons but in 1711, he was offered the job again and in 1713, became responsible for the musical activity of the institute.
Vivaldi was promoted to maestro de' concerti in 1716. It was ring these years that Vivaldi wrote much of his music, including many operas and concertos. In 1718, Vivaldi began to travel. Despite his frequent travels, the Pietà paid him to write two concertos a month for the orchestra and to rehearse with them at least four times when in Venice. The Pietà's records show that he was paid for 140 concertos between 1723 and 1729.
Most of his repertoire was rediscovered only in the first half of the 20th century in Turin and Genoa and was published in the second half. Vivaldi's music is innovative, breaking a consolidated tradition in schemes; he gave brightness to the formal and the rhythmic structure of the concerto, repeatedly looking for harmonic contrasts and invented innovative melodies and themes. Moreover, Vivaldi was able to compose non-academic music, particularly meant to be appreciated by the wide public and not only by an intellectual minority. The joyful appearance of his music reveals in this regard a transmissible joy of composing. These are among the causes of the vast popularity of his music. This popularity soon made him famous also in countries like France which was, at the time, very independent in its musical taste.
Vivaldi is considered one of the composers who brought Baroque Music (with its typical contrast among heavy sonorities) to evolve into a classical style. Johann Sebastian Bach was deeply influenced by Vivaldi's concertos and arias (recalled in his Passions and cantatas). Bach transcribed a number of Vivaldi's concertos for solo keyboard, along with a number for orchestra, including the famous Concerto for Four Violins and Violoncello, Strings and Continuo (RV 580). However, not all musicians have shown the same enthusiasm: Igor Stravinsky provocatively said that Vivaldi had not written hundreds of concertos but one concerto hundreds of times. Despite his priestly status, he is supposed to have had possible love affairs, one of which was with the singer Anna Giraud. With Anna, he was suspected of reusing materials from old Venetian operas, which he only slightly adapted to the vocal capabilities of his protegée. This business caused him some troubles with other musicians, like Benedetto Marcello, who wrote a pamphlet against him. There is no concrete evidence, however, that links Vivaldi romantically to anyone.
Vivaldi's life, like those of many composers of the time, ended in poverty. His compositions no longer held the high esteem they once did in Venice; changing musical tastes quickly made them outmoded, and Vivaldi, in response, chose to sell off sizeable numbers of his manuscripts at paltry prices to finance a migration to Vienna. Reasons for Vivaldi's departure from Venice are unclear, but it seems likely that he wished to meet Charles VI who adored his compositions (Vivaldi dedicated La Cetra to Charles in 1727), and take up the position of royal composer in the emperor's Imperial Court. However, shortly after Vivaldi's arrival at Vienna, Charles died. This tragic stroke of bad luck left the composer without royal protection and a source of income. Vivaldi had to sell off more manuscripts to make ends meet and eventually died not long after, in 1741. He was given an unmarked pauper's grave (the assumption that the young Joseph Haydn sang in the choir at Vivaldi's burial was based on the mistranscription of a primary source and has been proven wrong). Equally unfortunate, his music was to fall into obscurity until the 20th century. His burial spot is next to the Karlskirche in Vienna, at the site of the Technical Institute. The house he lived in while in Vienna was torn down. In its place now stands the Hotel Sacher. Memorial plaques have been placed at both locations, as well as a Vivaldi "star" in the Viennese Musikmeile and a monument at the Rooseveltsplatz.
Posthumous reputation
Vivaldi remained unknown for his published concerti, and largely ignored, even after the resurgence of interest in Bach, pioneered by Mendelssohn. The resurrection of Vivaldi's unpublished works in the 20th century is mostly thanks to the efforts of Alfredo Casella, who in 1939, organised the now historic Vivaldi Week, in which the rediscovered Gloria in excelsis (RV 589) was first heard again. Following World war II Vivaldi's compositions have enjoyed almost universal success, and the advent of historically informed performances has all but catapulted him to stardom once again. In 1947, the Venetian businessman, Antonio Fanna, founded the Istituto Italiano Antonio Vivaldi, with the composer, Gian Francesco Malipiero, as its artistic director, with the purpose of promoting Vivaldi's music and putting out new editions of his works.
Three films about Antonio Vivaldi are in proction as of 2005. One of them, with the working title Vivaldi, will be directed by Catherine Hardwicke for Emagine Entertainment, while the second could have Ashley MacIsaac in the title role. A third, made by French/Italian procers with Stefano Dionisi as Vivaldi and Michel Serrault in the main roles, is scheled for completion for 2005.
Vivaldi's music, together with Mozart's, Tchaikovsky's and Corelli's, has been included in the theories of Alfred Tomatis on the effects of music on human behaviour, and used in music therapy.
He was a prolific composer and is best known for composing:
Over 500 Concertos; approximately 350 of these are for solo instrument and strings, and of these about 230 are for violin; the others are for bassoon, cello, oboe, flute, viola d'amore, recorder, and mandolin. Approximately 40 concertos are for two instruments and strings, and approximately 30 for three or more instruments and strings.
46 operas
sinfonias
73 sonatas
chamber music (even if some sonatas for flute, as Il Pastor Fido, have been erroneously attributed to him, but were composed by Chédeville).
sacred music ("oratorio" Juditha Triumphans, written for Pietà, two Glorias, the Stabat Mater, the Nisi Dominus, the Beatus Vir, the Magnificat, the Dixit Dominus and others).
His most famous work is perhaps 1723's Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons). In essence, it resembled an early example of a tone poem, where he attempted to capture all the moods of the four seasons without the use of percussion to dramatize the effects he sought to portray.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Vivaldi