Happy Birthday, Vivaldi !

 

March 4, 1678 – July 28, 1741

aka “The Red Priest”

Antonio Vivaldi

Composer, violinist, and Venetian Priest (Though he didn’t say Mass for long. Chest pains. Believed to have become a priest to benefit from the free schooling.)

“He invented the idea that the soloist and orchestra should be in conflict with each other, holding a dialog that was essentially developmental, with effects like swift scales, arpeggios, and tremoli adding to the drama.” —-Blue Gene Tyranny

Vivaldi was an artist who knew how to compose conflict, tension in dialogue, and drama.

He was an inventor. He probably didn’t intend to be, but he followed his art, took those risks.

When we resist that sacred urge within us, we shut off that potential for true greatness, for invention.

Write something for three minutes. Then reset your timer and write for ten minutes with the idea that you will write the worst that you possibly can.

Did you allow yourself to write freely? Do you see any richness there? That’s yours, part of your authentic voice. Allow your richness. If you make mistakes, you can always revise later, but in that first writing, let it move through you and come to the page.

Whatever day it is that you read this, listen to some music that moves you, and celebrate Vivaldi.

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Here’s Nigel Kennedy playing Vivaldi’s “Spring”.