Vivaldi: Flute Concertos

"Although Vivaldi was a virtuoso violinist and wrote prolifically for that instrument he was able to compose imaginatively and expertly for a wide range of combinations of instruments. Vivaldi would certainly have been aware of the possibilities for flute writing as owing to its high register the instrument can penetrate a full string section without the fear of being drowned-out in tutti passages. Consequently Vivaldi left the catalogue with at least fifteen concertos for solo flute, strings and basso continuo and over double that number also featuring the flute as a solo instrument or in other instrumental combinations.

The flute as a solo instrument took some time to become popular in Italy although it had been widely composed for in northern Europe. The flute became especially fashionable in Germany where Johann Quantz the court composer for Frederick the Great was particularly prolific, composing an amazing several hundred works for the flute. It is likely that Vivaldi's inspiration for writing specifically for the flute came following the visit of Quantz to Venice in 1726 where Vivaldi was in station at the Pio Ospedale della Pieta. Despite Vivaldi's slow association with the flute the six Opus 10 concertos seem to be the first in Europe to appear in print when published by Le Cene of Amsterdam in 1728.

I understand that five of the set of six Opus 10 concertos were arrangements that Vivaldi made of his recorder concertos or from chamber concertos which included a flute or recorder. It is possible that concerto No. 4 of the set is the only original flute concerto composition; although an original version could have been lost or destroyed.

For the flute as with the recorder Vivaldi often used these high pitched instruments to attach certain imaginative subjects such as birdcalls, pastoral and romantic themes etc. Clearly Vivaldi's listening public were perceptive to the clever use of providing his works with programmatic and descriptive titles; a marketing device that he had used so successfully in The Four Seasons."
(MusicWeb July 2003)