Lauda Jerusalem
RV 609
Psalm 147 “Lauda Jerusalem” features prominently in the liturgical year, including in vespers on Marian feasts. Antonio Vivaldi’s only setting of this vesper psalm is rather unusual in being written for double choir, each accompanied by an instrumental choir of strings and basso continuo. Unlike many of his other psalm settings, this work is not divided into several movements. Solo and tutti sections are juxtaposed, with the composer employing a kind of ritornello structure to maintain the musical unity.
Vivaldi’s students at Venice’s “Ospedale della Pietà” performed the work in the 1730s. The autograph score shows that the solo passages were performed by two singers, probably for pedagogical reasons. Even today, these solo parts can be assigned to one or more good choral sopranos.
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Composer
Antonio Vivaldi
| 1678-1741Antonio (Lucio) Vivaldi was an Italian composer and violinist of the Baroque period.
It is assumed that his father, who was a musician himself, was responsible for Vivaldi's musical education. However, he began his professional career as a priest, which earned him the nickname Il prete rosso (the red-haired priest).
From 1703, Vivaldi worked intermittently as a violin teacher and composer at the Ospedale della Pietà, an orphanage for girls in Venice, until shortly before his death. Initially, he also worked there as a priest, but relinquished this role after three years. He wrote numerous chamber music works and concertos for his pupils at the Pietà. The famous Four Seasons are particularly well-known and often performed today. Vivaldi also composed sacred and secular vocal music and was an opera composer and director.
Of over 800 works known today, only 135 were published during Vivaldi's lifetime. After his death, Vivaldi's compositions were initially largely forgotten. Many of his works were rediscovered and published, particularly in the 20th century. Among them is the Gloria in D RV 589, the very first sheet music edition published by Carus-Verlag.
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Présentation de l’œuvre
Le...
Présentation de l’œuvre
Le Lauda Jerusalem RV 609 est l’un des deux grands psaumes solennels pour double chœur, double orchestre et orgue que Vivaldi composa pour les Vêpres de l’Immaculée Conception à l’Ospedale della Pietà de Venise (l’autre étant le RV 608, plus court).
Écrit vers 1730-1735 (période tardive de Vivaldi), il s’inscrit dans la série des grandes œuvres sacrées vénitiennes (avec le Gloria RV 589, le Magnificat RV 610/611, le Dixit Dominus RV 594 ou 595).
Le texte latin du psaume 147 (« Laudate Dominum quoniam bonus est psalmus… ») célèbre la grandeur et la miséricorde de Dieu sur Jérusalem. Vivaldi en fait une fresque grandiose en sept mouvements alternant chœurs homophones puissants, fugues rapides et épisodes solistiques virtuoses, dans la pure tradition du stile concertato vénitien hérité de Monteverdi et Gabrieli.
Note d’harmonie : 9,5 / 10
Justification :
Harmonie parfaitement tonale, d’une cohérence absolue dans le cadre baroque tardif vénitien.
Tonalité centrale : mi mineur (ton sombre et dramatique, très apprécié de Vivaldi pour les œuvres sacrées grandioses).
Utilisation très maîtrisée des appoggiatures (suspensions 4-3, 9-8, 7-6) dans les parties vocales et instrumentales, créant des dissonances expressives toujours préparées et résolues selon les règles classiques (Rameau les théoriserait quelques années plus tard).
Seule petite « entorse » à la consonance parfaite : quelques frottements secondaires (secondes mineures) dans les fugues rapides et les passages en imitation serrée, mais toujours au service de l’énergie dramatique et résolus avec élégance.
Description du timbre
Couleur sonore : riche, chaleureuse et majestueuse, avec une tension dramatique sous-jacente.
Le double chœur et le double orchestre (cordes + hautbois + trompettes dans certains mouvements) produisent une texture épaisse, presque « symphonique » avant l’heure.
Le mi mineur confère une teinte sombre et recueillie, contrebalancée par des éclats brillants dans les sections « Alleluia » en mi majeur final.
L’orgue en continuo renforce la profondeur et la chaleur, tandis que les trompettes (dans le manuscrit autographe) ajoutent une brillance triomphale.
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