Vivaldi and the baroque nomades
Musical fireworks in Eastern Europe
Vivaldi–anonymous
Myriam Leblanc, soprano
Ensemble Caprice:
Matthias Maute, recorder and traverso
Sophie Larivière, recorder and traverso
Olivier Brault, violin
Lucie Ringuette, violin
Susie Napper, cello
David Jacques, baroque guitare
Ziya Tabassian, percussion
The famous dictionary of music Grove claims that Vivaldi’s compositions were influenced by the music of nomadic musicians in Eastern Europe, where the Red Priest travelled time and again for performances of his operas. But he did not need to go far to be in touch with Eastern European culture: His teaching position at La Pietà in Venice connected him with Eastern European merchants, who unloaded their boats at the Canale delle schiavi (the Canal of the Slaves), right in front of the doorsteps of La Pietà, singing their songs and partying at night!
The musicians of Ensemble Caprice wanted to find out if it was possible to reconnect Vivaldi’s music with the melodies of these nomadic musicians. The Uhrovska Collection from 1730 (named for the eponymous town in present-day Slovakia where it was found) seemed to be a case-in-point. It is a fascinating document that provides us with a direct glimpse into the world of nomadic music. The collection of roughly 350 (!) melodies was probably meant to be as comprehensive as possible. Its multi-national character documents how the baroque nomads - and with them, their music - travelled. Hungarian melodies stand next to Czech songs, and the place of its discovery in Slovakia lets one infer even more national influences.
And all of a sudden, the exposure to the Eastern European melodies changes our perspective: Vivaldi’s wild sonata La Folia, his outrageously virtuosic recorder concerto RV 443 and the stunning motet In furore all of a sudden shine in a new light!
Duration: 1 h (no intermission)