“Music is an outburst of the soul.”
AUTHOR: Frederick Delius
"Music is not just organized sound, it is an expression of the human condition.”
COMPOSER
VIVALDI
CONCERTO for TWO VIOLINS
A MINOR RV 522 OPUS 3 NO. 8
from "L'estro armonico"
A MINOR RV 522 OPUS 3 NO. 8
from "L'estro armonico"
Allegro
Larghetto e spiritoso
Allegro
The Concerto for Two Violins in A minor, Op.3 No.8, RV 522, is a piece of music which is a part of Vivaldi's first published set of concertos, written in 1711, as a collection of twelve concertos for for one, two, three, or four violins called "L'estro armonico," [“harmonic inspiration” or “musical genius”(“estro” is a word which can mean genius; armonico means harmony)] meaning that it is music inspired by harmony. It was published in about 1712 by the Dutch firm of Etienne Roger, which widely distributed Vivaldi's music in beautifully engraved editions giving the set a catchy title, drawing attention to this composer who was not yet known in the north. After this publication there was a rapid rise of Vivaldi's popularity which fueled demand for him to create more music and very quickly made him famous throughout Europe. Reprinted many times and performed all over Europe, L’estro armonico was perhaps the most popular and influential music publication of the first half of the eighteenth century.
This collection was so well received even J.S. Bach knew of them transcribing six concerti from the twelve in l’Estro armonico for organ or keyboard, one of which is this A-minor Concerto. Vivaldi’s music played an important role in influencing Bach’s musical development as a composer as he studied and used Vivaldi's stylistic formats not only in his concertos, but in many other instrumental and vocal genres.
The Concerto in A minor, RV 522, (the eighth work in the collection) is a three-movement (fast-slow-fast) work with the presence of two solo violins (concertino) plus an orchestral ripieno of violins, violas, cello, and basso continuo (called concerti grossi due to their use of this concertino-style ensemble). This particular concerto has become a favorite of both professional and amateur musicians because of its virtuoso writing for the soloists, sharp contrast between the solo instruments and the larger orchestra, and an endless supply of rhythmic, constantly driving forward energy.
The opening movement, Allegro, has a powerful, energetic but serious opening theme for the ripieno (orchestra) followed by the two soloists playing in varied ways: unison, sometimes in thirds, and throughout the movement exchanging roles, taking turns leading and accompanying (with the second violin part often set above the first violin).
Written in D minor, the second middle movement, called "e spiritoso," starts with an opening unison serving as the ostinato (repeated) bass line for the entire movement as the two solo violins perform tuneful solos of long melodic passages high above it ending with a final orchestral unison restatement.
The closing Allegro returns to the virtuoso manner of the opening movement starting with a fast and imitative sequence (functioning as a theme) for the ripieno (orchestra) alternating for the rest of the movement with soloists playing off each other with long and inventive solos finally leading to a strong ending cadence.
http://www.allmusic.com/composition/double-violin-concerto-for-2-violins-strings-continuo-in-a-minor-lestro-armonico-no-8-op-3-8-rv-522-mc0002357735
"Two Violins" by Andrei Kovalev
