Vivaldi, A :: Concerto in F Major, op. 10 no. 1 (RV 433) 'La Tempesta di Mare'

Concerto in F Major, op. 10 no. 1 (RV 433) 'La Tempesta di Mare'

Vivaldi, A

International Music Company presents Antonio Vivaldi's Concerto in F Major, op. 10 no. 1 (RV 433) 'La Tempesta di Mare' for flute and piano edited by Jean-Pierre Rampal.

'La Tempesta di Mare is the first of six concertos, known as Op. 10, that Vivaldi was commissioned to write in 1725 for a publisher in Amsterdam. These six concerti were finished and published between 1729-30 and are notable as the first collection of flute concerti ever published. Vivaldi s style includes impelling rhythmic vitality, varied textures, and relatively spontaneous-sounding melodic ideas. The spontaneity of the melody and rhythmic vitality in 'La Tempest di Mare' can be heard from the opening of the first movement as the notes just burst forth with sudden force and energy. The effect is a highly stylized characterization of a storm out at sea. The first movement is in ritornello form which creates an antiphonal characteristic between the soloist and tutti. This opposition augments the dramatic role of the soloist. Each entrance of the solo flute line becomes more ornamented and decorative creating a sense of the growing intensity of the storm. In the second movement the storm comes to a momentary calm as the ship passes through the eye of the storm. Here Vivaldi is focused on the broad and bold effect of the momentary relief after the preceding fury. The simple chordal texture, sparse rhythm and few melodic elements in the strings help convey elements of a calm sea. The flute solo also plays a melodic line made up of triplets which gives the movement a gentle rocking feel. This doesn t last long and the little ship is thrown back into the ferocity of the storm with the third movement. The antiphonal elements are back but this time in shorter sections creating a thicker texture throughout. It is as if the sea and storm have become one and drowned the little ship. If the beating to the ship is not enough, rapid ascending scales can be heard in the flute solo that resemble lighting striking a final blow.'

- instantencore.com