Famous Violin Composers

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Antonio Vivaldi 1678-1741

Antonio Vivaldi was introduced to the violin by his father, Giovanni, himself a professional violinist who played in the famous cathedral orchestra of St. Mark's in Venice. The young Antonio also studied the violin with Giovanni Legrenzi, choirmaster at St. Mark's, and one of Venice's most highly respected composers and teachers. By the time Antonio was in his teens, he was already playing the instrument professionally alongside his father. But even though it was clear that Antonio had a natural gift for music, Giovanni was determined that his son should dedicate himself to the church.

In 1703 Vivaldi was ordained as a priest, but he decided not to pursue a church career. Instead, he accepted a professional teaching appointment-as maestro di violino (violin professor) at the Ospedale della Pietd, a school dedicated to the care and upbringing of orphaned girls. The school was also a music academy, and here Vivaldi remained, teaching and playing, for most of his life. He became concert master and later director of the school.

At the time of his appointment as violin professor Vivaldi was writing his first string works: a set of trio sonatas (pieces with several movements, usually written for two violins, cello, and harpsichord or organ). Shortly after completing these works, Vivaldi wrote his first violin sonatas.

J. S. Bach 1685-1750

It is likely that Johann Sebastian Bach had his first violin and music theory lessons from his father, a town musician in Eisenach, in northern Germany. The young Bach progressed rapidly with his music studies and was soon an accomplished violinist. When he was eighteen, Bach took a job as a violinist in nearby Weimar. After this, he began to compose music and never again had to rely on his violin playing as a source of income.

During the early part of his life Bach's composing skills were directed toward organ and choral music. It was not until he became chief court musician (called Kapelimeister) for Prince Leopold at Anhalt-C6then, composing for his own small orchestra, that he began to write his first instrumental music. This included two concertos for violin and orchestra that remain favorites with soloists all over the world. Bach made the solo part in these concertos much more important than was customary, using the orchestra mostly as an accompaniment.

While working for Prince Leopold, Bach wrote three "partitas" for violin. Partita No. 2 contains one of the most well-known pieces of music Bach wrote-the famous "Chaconne." This movement is so popular that it is often played at concerts as a single item. The piece begins with a powerful melody, which is followed by thirty-one variations.During the same productive period Bach also wrote three violin sonatas. Both these and the partitas are unusual in that they are for unaccompanied violin.

In about 1719 Bach met the Margrave of Brandenburg, an important member of the nobility and a keen amateur musician who enjoyed commissioning concertos from composers he admired, like Bach. The result of their meeting was the famous Brandenburg Concertos. During Bach's lifetime much of the glorious music he wrote was never appreciated. When the great composer died, ailing and blind, he was buried in an unmarked grave, and many of his most precious manuscripts were sold for only a few pennies each.

To view one of Bach's master manuscript's click HERE!