| The scoring for Vivaldi's violin concerto 'Le Quattro Stagione', is for solo violin, string orchestra and continuo instrument (organ or harpsichord). For more information on the continuo and figured-bass, see the section in 'Vivaldi's Music'. |
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| The instruments that Vivaldi wrote
for were more or less the same as the instruments used by todays musicians.
This is probably because the great instrument makers of the mid-sixteenth
to early eighteenth centuries made instruments that are still in use today.
These craftsmen all lived in Cremona, northern Italy, passing their skills from father to son over several generations. The most famous of these craftsmen were the Amati, Guarneri and Stradivari families; you may hear of their instruments being sold at auctions these days for many thousands of pounds. The bow was developed from the weapon of the same name, but eventually was made much less convex in shape. The bow used on modern violins, violas and cellos was developed by François Tourte of Paris (1747-1835). His bows were made slightly longer and heavier than the early bows. However, reproduction 'early' bows are still being manufactured to allow for 'original' performances. |
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