Concerto for Two Trumpets (Vivaldi)
Antonio Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Trumpets in C major, RV 537, is a concerto for two trumpets, string orchestra and basso continuo in three movements, believed to have been composed in the 1720s. It is Vivaldi's only trumpet concerto. It was published by Ricordi in 1950 after its manuscript was found in a Turin library. History Vivaldi composed the Concerto for Two Trumpets in C major possibly in the 1720s in Venice. It is his only trumpet concerto; it is not known for whom he wrote it. It seems unlikely that he wrote it for the Ospedale della Pietà, because the ensemble there comprised voices, strings and keyboard. It was written for the natural trumpet of the time; as a valveless instrument this was limited to the notes of the natural harmonic series which means that its music tends to stay close to its home key. A manuscript was found in the Renzo Giordano Collection at the National Library in Turin, which holds much of Vivaldi's personal collection. It was first published, edited by Gian Francesco Malipiero, by Casa Ricordi in 1950. Vivaldi also used the second movement for his Violin Concerto in C major, RV 110. Music The concerto