Concerto No 1 "La Tempesta"

1.      Allegro
2.      Largo
3.      Presto

Concerto No 2 "La Notte"

4.      Largo - Fantasmi
5.      Largo - Presto
6.      Largo - "Il Sonno" - Allegro

Concerto No 3 "Il Gardellino"

7.      Allegro
8.      Cantabile
9.      Allegro

Concerto No 4

10.      Allegro
11.      Largo
12.      Presto

Concerto No 5

13.      Allegro ma
14.      Largo e cantabile
15.      Allegro

Concerto No 6

16.      Allegro
17.      Largo
18.      Presto

Introduction

To love Vivaldi's music is to love nature, life and all things perpetual, aesthetic and ecstatic. So many years after Vivaldi lived out his life (1678-1741), we still enjoy his colourful, energetic music all over the world. This is proof that certain inner revelations can indeed be shared across generations and boundaries. Truth will not bow in the face of Time, nor will it cease to demand our attention as the human race progresses determinedly towards nowhere in particular.

Time, or rather Timelessness (or maybe both) - to me, this is what Vivaldi seems to capture so beautifully in his music. His vivid portrayals of the ever-changing and miraculous transformations of nature, in all its diversity and seasons, seem to always come back to the inevitable, fleeting, self-perpetuating and ultimately comforting nature of Time. Don't ask me to justify or prove any of this - these thoughts are based purely on the feelings I experienced as I have explored these wonderful concertos. Crafted into inspired and perfect structures of emotion, Rhythm and Sequence become the perfect tools to portray and explain Life's deep harmony and balance within itself. Vivaldi knew Nature and he knew Music; he was therefore able to reach deep within and express the Essence of Life.

The fact that such a serene observer of Life should have been a priest in the Ospedale della Pietà, a school and orphanage for young girls in Venice, comes as a reassuring reminder that Vivaldi did not hide away from life on a human scale. His work as a priest within the context of this orphanage was probably a very important factor in making his music so popular and relevant in his own time. This is why I have chosen to donate £1 out of the sale of each CD towards the care of abandoned or needy children around the world (see notes on SOS CHILDREN'S VILLAGES INTERNATIONAL). This is part of my international initiative Towards Humanity, using the inspirational qualities of music as a catalyst for promoting and raising funds for humanitarian work around the world.

I can think of no better tribute to Vivaldi's enduring inspiration to us all than to continue his work helping children towards the fulfilment of their destinies, as he did in his own life and music. May music live to continue converting Inspired Thought into Inspired Reality, for our fragile planet.

About the music

So much has already been written about the historical aspects of Vivaldi's music. Honestly, I do not have anything valuable to add, so I have written a few words that helped me in my explorations into Vivaldi's Six Concertos, Op. 10