Bob Draper wrote:

>So why do people single out Vivaldi for criticism?

Vivaldi again?  I guess I'm going to have to get used to the fact that this
composer just won't go away.

Negative "labels" usually are attached to famous persons, and they are very
hard to dislodge.  Of course, Vivaldi doesn't help much, given the music he
composed.  I generally have the same span of reactions to most of his works
- ranging from ho-hum to annoyance.

>I love the man's music mainly for its 'joi de vivre'.

That's a "take" on Vivaldi's music I can't connect with.  Much of his music
is emotionally depressing to me with no light at the end of the tunnel.
When he does go "upbeat", I get even more annoyed.

I will say this for Vivaldi.  His music is pretty good background for
movies or when looking for lost items in the house.  Take this morning.
I put my pants belt in the kitchen so it would be readily available after
I ate some toast.  I eat my toast, but can't find the belt.  Fifteen
minutes later, I'm grilling my grandson as to what he might have done with
it, and some innocuous Vivaldi is floating my way from my wife's boom box.
Finally, my wife reports that the belt is hanging from one of the kitchen
chairs and admonishes me for the interrogation I gave the little fella.
I replied heatedly, "It's Vivaldi's fault, don't blame me".  I don't know
why she doesn't accept those answers.

Don's Conclusion: Everyone likes to criticize Vivaldi, deserved or not.
Come on Bob, join in.

Don Satz
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