In the Footsteps of Corelli

Abstract

The influence of Corelli on the op. 2 sonatas of Vivaldi is clear, so in some ways this lesson is a consolidation of the previous ones. It identifies three essential prerequisites to successful interpretation: an unceasing observation and scrutiny of detail, an appraisal of the implications of each detail, and the identification and internalization of the emotions inherent in the music at any given moment. The detailed Observations section incorporates discussions on exclamations, the art of gesture and the use of second position, so important in this repertoire and so often feared by violinists. Alternative methods of shifting are clearly explained and the best places to shift identified, with reference to Tartini and Leopold Mozart. The lesson discusses what the sources say about using open strings, explains why it is important to spot ornamentation within a written text and how that impacts the way we play.