Concerto in G minor, RV 531 for two cellos and piano; Antonio Vivaldi

Concerto in G Minor, RV 531 for two cellos and piano by Antonio Vivaldi

Edited by G.F. Ghedini and Janos Starker. Published by International

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was one of the greatest composers of the Baroque Era, as well as a virtuoso violinist and an ordained priest. He was based in Venice early in his career, writing many of his compositions for the all-female musicians of Ospedale della Pieta orphanage. He later worked in Mantua, where he wrote his famous Four Seasons concertos. He worked extensively in the nascent concerto form developed by Corelli, refining it into a leading instrumental form of the late Baroque, influencing Handel and Bach alike. His innovative developments in instrumental color and violin technique as well as the vivid immediacy of his writing have made his work immensely popular in his own time as well as with today's musicians.

Vivaldi's Double Cello Concerto in G minor, RV 531 dates from 1720 during his Mantua period. It is the best of his 30 cello concertos and the only one for two solo cellos. Like some of his other concertos for multiple soloists, it embodies a collaborative sensibility related to the trio sonata; both soloists are on equal footing, with dramatic, ear-catching interactions of rhythm and color. Other composers, notably Bach, would be strongly influenced by this approach in their own works. This iconic work is presented here in an arrangement for two cellos and piano. Includes piano score and two cello parts. Intermediate-advanced level, Grade 4.