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Chorale to Perform Antonio Vivaldi's
Beatus Vir, RV 597
Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741),
nicknamed The Red Priest because of
his red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer,
priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice.
Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his
influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe. Vivaldi is known
mainly for his instrumental concertos, especially for the violin, as well as
sacred choral works and over 40 operas. His best known work is a series of concertos,
especially for the violin, as well as sacred choral works and over 40 operas.
His best known work is a series of violin
concertos known as The
Four Seasons.
Many of his
compositions were written for the female music ensemble of the Ospedale
della Pietà, a home for abandoned children where Vivaldi worked from 1703 to
1715 and from 1723 to 1740. However, after meeting the Emperor Charles VI,
Vivaldi moved to Vienna hoping for preferment. The Emperor died soon after
Vivaldi's arrival, and the composer died a pauper, without a steady source of
income.
Though Vivaldi's
music was well received during his lifetime, it later declined in popularity
until its vigorous revival in the first half of the 20th century. Today, Vivaldi
ranks among the most popular and widely recorded Baroque composers.
Vivaldi's Beatus Vir, RV 597 is the most-often performed of his various
versions of this text. It is scored for double chorus, double string orchestra,
oboes and organ. The work is comprised of nine movements and opens with "Beatus
vir qui timet Dominum", a lovely choral piece for mainly female voices that
features an introduction on strings. There are five other "Beatus vir" sections
scattered throughout the work, all very brief and serving as a refraine with
each repeating the main choral theme from the opening movement. "Potens in
terra" follows, scored for male chorus. Following the first "Beatus vir" repeat
is the "Gloriae et divitiae", a lively movement which features fine vocal
canonic writing for 2 female soloists. After another "Beatus vir" refrain comes
"Exortum est in tenebris" for double mixed chorus, and "Jucundus homo",
featuring a playful introduction on organ and a lovely solo for soprano. The
next movement, "In memoria aeterna", is framed by two more "Beatus vir"
movements. It is one of the more contemplative movements, beginning with a
pensive introduction on strings and featuring beautifully interwoven lines by
alto, tenor and bass. "Paratum cor eius" follows, a lively movement for chorus
which features unusual unison passages, which is contrasted by the following "Peccator
videbit", a solo movement which begins with slow but lovely music and then
alternates that material with lively and florid scalar lines. The final "Beatus
vir" appears, after which comes the concluding "Gloria Patri", a triumphant
movement in which the double chorus conveys a sense of angelic majesty. |
