Great Composers Note Reading Worksheet

Here is a great composers note reading worksheet on Vivaldi. While most of the Baroque composers composed for strings, Vivaldi was prolific. He wrote over 200 concertos for violin. Being a violinist himself we see his great love for the instrument as well as his virtuosic skill in all his compositions. He took orders as a priest and served as a priest for year and a half. But due a health condition he was given a dispensation to not participate in Mass. Because of his red hair, he was nicknamed “The Red Priest.”

Vivaldi the Teacher-Composer

He began to teach violin at Ospedale della Pietà, a home for abandoned girls. Under Vivaldi’s teaching the orchestra became well-known. People traveled to Venice to hear the girls play. The orchestra had a rigorous performance and rehearsal schedule. They performed for daily mass, weekly vespers, and concerts for visiting government officials. Not only did Vivaldi teach instrumental lessons, but also taught music theory along with composing the music they performed. Many of his important compositions were written during his tenure at Ospedale della Peità.

Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons

Vivaldi’s most famous work, The Four Seasons, was revolutionary for his day. Vivaldi pioneered with this work the imitation of nature in musical composition. He also wrote a poem to go along with each concerto. One can hear the crickets, the cold wind, and , the falling leaves, the budding flowers and the chirping birds as you listen through these concertos. One of my favorite memories is performing “Summer” in an outdoor venue on July 4th. Vivaldi’s mastery is truly on display when played to the background of nature.

Listen to “Winter” played by Henning Kraggerud and the Arctic Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. I’m not sure you can get more “winter” than the arctic.

Original Manuscript

from IMSLP

Great Composers Note Reading – Vivaldi

This worksheet uses notes from all four strings on violin and viola. All the pitches can be found in first position. These worksheets are meant to reinforce staff reading away from the instrument. And at the same time introduce students to composers. Ideally students would work on these worksheets while listening to a work by this composer. To learn more about Vivaldi check out the recordings, podcasts and books listed below.