Vivalid was the original metalhead part… I lost count. Like 13 or something.
(To be fair, this rendition of Winter is a fair bit faster than I usually see it performed. Still, Vivaldi was the original metalhead in part because of what he inspires.)
-Shiv
Eighteenth century speed metal? Pretty cool!
Apropos of nothing much, by sheer coincidence I happened to be listening to this (The Coast Of Galiçia) when I read this post.
There has been a movement in classical music since the middle of the last century to play Baroque music faster and more precisely than the syrupy style that was favored in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Wanda Landowska studied letters written by J. S. Bach criticizing how people played his music. She concluded that he wanted it played quickly and precisely. She settled arguments about this by saying, “Fine. You play Bach your way and I’ll play him his.”
I learned to love Vivaldi’s music through the performances of the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Neville Marriner conducting. They were considered astonishingly fast in their day; I listened again recently and, under the influence of more recent performers, found them tedious and plodding.
I liked Mari Samuleson’s take here: the short rest between the flurry of short notes and the long notes is a neat touch. If you liked this, then check out performances by Nigel Kennedy, who looks like a punk, and il Gardino Armonico. You can never have enough Seasons.
@Timberwoof
I adore a rapid rendition of Summer. If the soloist hasn’t shredded their bow I’m always mildly disappointed.