Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 9 No. 5 (RV 358)

Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 9 No. 5 (RV 358)

Antonio Vivaldi

From La Cetra ('The Lyre', a set of 12 concerti published by Vivaldi as his Opus 9.)

This is one of my all time favourite Vivaldi concerti. It is full of exciting rhythms, harmonies and innovations.

The first movement kicks of with a slow introduction - not a commonly employed device of Vivaldi's. The movement then kicks off into the presto and continues with great vigour and yet great lyricism. The movement then ends in a particularly interesting and exciting way - we expect the usual final ritornello from the ensemble, but the solo violin suddenly and forcibly jumps back into the action with a terse arpeggiated figure, and the movement has no choice but to lead straight into a beautiful, mitigating slow movement - another innovation. The final movement has a remarkably modern, film-like theme (personally, I think it'd be a great opening theme for the upcoming Vivaldi film). Soon comes perhaps my favourite part of the whole concerto (perhaps except for the aforementioned arpeggiated part); at about 7:01 (though I suppose technically at 6:53) we begin a very satisfying excursion which I cannot explain musicologically - I need to get my hands on the score for a starting point. The solo violin, interacting closely with the orchestra (in quite a rare way for Vivaldi, with the accompaniment developing and changing in between) begins a tonal(?)/harmonic(?)/melodic(?) sequential pattern which feels sort of familiar but not - it as if our Vivaldi familiarity leads us to expect something which does not actually come, but is subsituted by a sort of alternative, mirrored version of whatever we expected, in a more-than-satisfying way. This progression, whatever type it is, ends with the same figure repeated in crescendo, closing with an orchestral ritornello. As you can see, I can't very clearly explain what I mean or explain its presence, but I hope from listening you can tell - it's a sort of alien Vivaldi moment or great satisfaction and always makes me think of Bach, even though it's nothing like his music - perhaps it is the intelligence of this moment that reminds me of Bach, the great musical intellectual. The section ends at around 7:18.

Either way, whatever you get out of this concerto, I very much hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Antonio
• Vivaldi
• la
• cetra
• minor
• violin
• concerto
• op.
• no.
• RV
• 358
• allegro
• adagio
• largo
• presto
• tonal
• harmonic
• arpeggiated
• baroque
• music
• classical

[BeBopElmo]

Four movements rolled into one. A gem. Wonderful simplicity and lyricism, with short themes, variations/improvisations, repetitions, quasi-rubato solos, and overall poetry. I love the slow section with the "orchestra" playing Vivaldi-style , long eighth notes followed by a dum da da dum dum da dum rhythmic idea. Thank you again, Sir Edd, for this contribution. Please let us know who the players are when you get a chance. Thanks again for your thoughtful postings.

[perruchopty]

Ever since I was a child, this concerto has been among my top 5 favorite Vivaldi concertos, being my favorite Op. 9 No.12. This is a true masterpiece in the whole of classical music. No words to describe this jewel!! I think the performer is Iona Brown and the orchestra of St. Martin-in-the-fields. The very best rendition ever is the one by Felix Ayo and I musici!!

[1976mcnasty]

this is truley one of the greatest concerto's ever written.

[Vivaldifriend]

This is the real face of Antonio Vivaldi,drawed from Francois Morellon La Cave in 1725 published that year with his music for Le Cène edition op.VIII.Talbot 1991.