Fun
Now Hear This (Vivaldi)
Dear Ann,
My Bach-mania continues. I cannot get enough of ol’ Johann Sebastian. Sometimes I just sit here in the twilight listening to Sheep May Safely Graze and shedding a few gentle tears at the fleeting beauty of our days.
You know who Bach really loved? Vivaldi, that’s who. Surfing my local PBS channel and literally Knitting to This, I caught an episode of “Now Hear This” in which violinist Scott Yoo wanders around Italy, telling the story and playing the music of Vivaldi, specifically the famous Four Seasons violin concertos.
I nearly dropped my knitting and shouted “WHAT” when I learned that Vivaldi was almost forgotten, except in quotes and transcriptions by later composers. His work was thought largely to be lost until one day in the 1920s, when a priest walked into a library with a trove of manuscripts he was looking to sell. If the librarian hadn’t been a music lover, the manuscripts likely would have been sold off piecemeal and lost for good. Instead they are scrupulously maintained, together, in Turin.
Isn’t life amazing? What else have we lost, or nearly? It must be so much it doesn’t bear thinking about.
I really loved this episode, especially the part where Yoo visits a violin maker, who talks about how it took 5 generations of accumulated knowledge to produce Stradivarius, a chain of craftsmanship that was fatally interrupted by Napoleon’s wars. They are trying to rebuild that knowledge again. Contemporary luthiers know that they will not see the full fruit of their labors in their own lifetime. Isn’t that beautiful?
Also: who knew that playing a violin in a meadow would get it all out of wack? Keep your lutes indoors, people!
“Now Hear This” airs on PBS channels and streams on PBS Passport and Amazon Prime.
Love,
Kay
This sounds fascinating Ann. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I will definitely watch it later.
Oops, sorry Kay!
This sounds amazing, I’m planning to listen. Thank you!
This is magnificent! Thank you, Kay!!
I love Vilvadi! I must check out this episode.
My mother in law descrubed Bach’s music as knitting! I agree – Vivaldi and all Baroque music too. Isn’t it amazing that we still have it? Thank you for this Satueday morning insight.
exquisite brought me to tears…
THANK YOU
Yoo’s wife Alice K. Dade is a phenomenal flutist who performs in this series.
Love this! Music and history and travel and even food! Looking forward to watching the other episodes.
That’s my favorite composer. I love Passport. You never know what you will find.
Wonderful, treasures….this music touches me, too.
Balm to soothe the soul.
I love Vivaldi and Bach! Can’t wait to check this out! Thank you!
There is a somewhat similar story of how Pablo Casals discovered a copy of the Bach cello suites in a music shop (the originals do not exist) and worked to bring them to the public’s attention: https://www.wbur.org/artery/2019/10/18/cellists-boston-pablo-casals
Always lovely sound ideas. Have you listened to theMILK CARTON KIDS sing with sara baraleis? and chris thieve? SO so lovely and caring
darn auto correct:
Chris T h i l e and Milk Carton kids with Sara B.
I love PBS Passport but was not aware of this program. Thanks
Vivaldi is fabulous! In my list of knit-to music also have Bach, Brahms, and Handel. Thanks for sharing this. I will watch it.
ooh that was so wonderful, thank you for suggesting, I never would have found it without you.
I loved this podcast about Stradivarius violins. You might like it too. https://www.20k.org/episodes/stradivarius%20
This was such a treat to watch! Thanks so much for sharing this!
I love Mendelssohn and I’m so excited to see Mendelssohn included especially, The “Scottish” Symphony. I’ve loved Classical music all my life as well as playing the piano when I’m not knitting or reading, etc. Great music can inspire us all. We need music more than ever today.
That was FANTASTIC!!! Thank you!!!
Enjoyed this series when I found it last year – all except, admittedly, Scarletti. But thoroughly enjoyed Vivaldi!