Concerto for Two Trumpets (Vivaldi)

Concerto for Two Trumpets
Concerto by Antonio Vivaldi
Engraving of Vivaldi by La Cave, 1725
Key	C major
Catalogue	RV 537
Composed	1720s
Published	1950 (1950)
Movements	3
Scoring	2 trumpets strings continuo

Antonio Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Trumpets in C major, RV 537,^[1] is a concerto for two trumpets, string orchestra and basso continuo in three movements, believed to have been composed in the 1720s. It is Vivaldi's only trumpet concerto. It was published by Ricordi in 1950 after its manuscript was found in a Turin library.

History

Vivaldi composed the Concerto for Two Trumpets in C major possibly in the 1720s in Venice.^[2] It is his only trumpet concerto;^[2] it is not known for whom he wrote it. It seems unlikely that he wrote it for the Ospedale della Pietà, because the ensemble there comprised voices, strings and keyboard. It was written for the natural trumpet of the time; ^[3] as a valveless instrument this was limited to the notes of the natural harmonic series which means that its music tends to stay close to its home key.^[4]

A manuscript was found in the Renzo Giordano Collection at the Turin National University Library, which holds much of Vivaldi's personal collection.^[3] It was first published, edited by Gian Francesco Malipiero, by Casa Ricordi in 1950.^[3] Vivaldi also used the second movement for his Violin Concerto in C major, RV 110.^[3]

Music

The concerto is structured in three movements:^[2][3]

1. Allegro
2. Largo
3. Allegro

The outer movements display the virtuosity of the soloists in passage-work and fanfares.^[3][2] The two trumpets usually play together in the solo passages, but at times also play with the strings in the tutti parts.^[3]

In the first movement, the strings modulate to a minor key, which returns to the major when the trumpets re-enter. In the middle movement of only six measures, the trumpets are silent,^[3] with both the style and harmony being unsuitable for the instrument.^[4] It is in a languid mood, set with sustained chords from the strings.^[2] The third movement, beginning with fanfare arpeggios in canon from the soloists, is in a triple metre and brings the work to a vigorous conclusion.^[3]

References

1. Ryom, Peter (2001). "Vivaldi, Antonio (Lucio)". In Sadey, Stanley (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2nd ed.).
2. Schwarn, Betsy. Concerto for Two Trumpets in C Major. Amadeus Press. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
3. "Concerto in C Major for Two Trumpets and Orchestra (Antonio Vivaldi)". Western Piedmont Symphony. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
4. Talbot, Michael (1979). Vivaldi. BBC Music Guides. London: BBC. pp. 40–41. ISBN 0-563-12856-9.

External links

• Concerto for 2 Trumpets in C major, RV 537 (Vivaldi): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Vivaldi, Concerto for 2 Baroque Trumpets on YouTube, Josh Cohen and Nathaniel Mayfield, Baroque trumpets; performed live in Montreal on 18 February 2009