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Recorder Concerto in C Major, RV 443 - Movement 2 (Largo)
  • Master Vivaldi's lyrical concerto style
  • Develop sustained cantabile playing
  • Execute Italian-style ornamentation
  • Perfect expressive phrasing in C Major

About This Piece

Composer: Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Difficulty: Late Intermediate

Notes Used: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C (high), D (high), E (high), F (high)

Key: C Major (modulating to A minor)

Movement: II. Largo

Fingering Review

Complete Largo Movement

Vivaldi's lyrical opening with singing quality over steady bass.

Exploration of the relative minor with expressive chromatic touches.

Return to C Major with opportunities for improvised embellishments.

Ornamentation Guide

Practice Italian-style trills, mordents, and improvised divisions.

Practice improvising on final cadence (traditional in Vivaldi concertos).

Technical Exercises

Develop smooth, singing tone across the range.

Practice messa di voce (crescendo-diminuendo) on long notes.

Performance Practice Notes

  • Largo tempo: ♩ = 48-52, very expressive; think of it as an operatic aria
  • Cantabile style: Sing through the melody; use vocal phrasing
  • Ornamentation: Add freely in Italian style; improvise at cadences
  • Dynamics: Use subtle swells and diminuendos; echo effects
  • Cadenza: Consider adding a brief improvised cadenza before final cadence

Historical Context

Vivaldi's Concerto in C Major, RV 443, is one of his most beloved recorder concertos. The Largo movement exemplifies Vivaldi's gift for lyrical melodic writing, influenced by his work as a violin teacher and composer of operas. This movement should be performed as an instrumental aria - the recorder "singing" over the sparse accompaniment. In Vivaldi's time, soloists were expected to ornament and improvise, particularly at cadences where a brief cadenza was traditional. The movement's exploration of C Major and A minor demonstrates Vivaldi's harmonic sophistication. Written for the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice (a girls' orphanage where Vivaldi taught), this concerto showcases the high level of musical achievement possible on the recorder.

Performance Goal: Perform this Largo as an instrumental aria with beautiful, sustained tone and expressive phrasing. Add tasteful Italian-style ornamentation and consider improvising a brief cadenza. Demonstrate your ability to sustain musical interest at a very slow tempo through expressive playing and vocal-quality tone.

Practice Strategy

  • Sing the melody before playing to internalize phrasing
  • Practice long tones with crescendo and diminuendo
  • Record yourself to check tone quality and sustain
  • Listen to Vivaldi opera arias to understand his vocal style
  • Study Italian Baroque ornamentation practices
  • Practice improvising simple cadenzas on the final cadence