Class 2 - Venice Redefines Herself

    Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, Venice gradually declined as a center of trade as maritime powers such as the British and Dutch secured Atlantic and African trade routes. So the city redefined herself as a center of culture to draw wealthy tourists who were on the Grand Tour.

     In the 18th century Venice became a center of music. One of the greatest Venetian musicians of the time was Antonio Vivaldi . He was a composer, virtuoso violinist, and teacher of Baroque music. Vivaldi wrote more than fifty operas (many of them lost today), multiple instrumental concertos for the violin and a variety of other musical instruments, as well as many stunningly beautiful sacred choral works. A large number of his compositions were written for the female music ensemble of the Ospedale della Pietí , a home for abandoned children where Vivaldi (who had been ordained as a Catholic priest) was employed as musical director for most of his career. Today, his best-known work is a series of violin concertos known as The Four Seasons, which he wrote to show off his own prowess with the violin. Learn more about him in the short video below:

Andromeda Liberata is a serenade written by Vivaldi in 1726 on the occasion of a notable cardinal visiting Venice. It was performed in Saint Mark's. Vivaldi played the virtuoso violinist part, of course. When the wealthy Brits were planning a grand tour, Vivaldi's music was one of the major draws to Venice.

     If you enjoy beautiful sacred music, it is hard to beat Vivaldi's Gloria. Here is a performance by a group of university students. As you listen, try to envision Vivaldi leading his own students - singers and musicians - at the Ospedale before visiting dignitaries.  

     Now, just for fun, listen to Winter from the Four Seasons. On period instruments, of course. It is said to be the most challenging section for the violinist to perform. 

     Giovanni Antonio Canal, known as Canaletto, was a Venetian artist who painted vedute (highly detailed cityscapes) of his home city He was fabulously successful, as it became fashionable for eighteenth-century English tourists on the Grand Tour to bring home a Canaletto veduta to commemorate their trip. Today, nearly all of his paintings are located in private or public collections in England. Click on his image below to learn more about him.

     The Wallace Collection in England houses many Canaletto paintings, which are currently being restored. This is in itself a fascinating process. Click on the video below and learn more.

     Ascension Day was a feast day fin Venice that commemorated the time (in 1000) that the Doge liberated the inhabitants of Dalmatia from the Slavs and extended Venetian holdings in the Adriatic. Every year,  the current Doge would sail on his state barge - the “Bucintoro” - out to sea, where he would throw a gold ring into the water.  In "marrying the sea," he demonstrated Venice's dominion over the Mediterranean. Over the years, this event became quite colorful with parades of decorated boats accompanying the ducal barge and boat races following the ceremony. Even when Venice's empire was only a distant memory, this marriage ceremony became a popular tourist acttivity.

     Click on the video below to view a painting of this special event.

     At the end of the 18th century, Venice was sacked by Napoleon and his troops. The mighty Venetian Republic was no more. Even worse, Napoleon and his men looted Venice on a major scale. Below is a video about what Napoleon planned to do with his seized booty. We'll talk more about this when we get to Paris.

     Before you go, listen to Vivaldi's Concerto Alla Rustica while savoring a verduta by Canaletto (be sure to view the painting on full-screen setting). As you listen, think about how the beauty of his home city must have inspired Vivaldi's joyful music.