Gloria — opening chorus

A. VivaldiRV 589

Key

D

Time

C

Tempo

♩=100

AO focus

AO3

Form

Opening chorus of the 12-movement Gloria. Octave leaps in the strings establish an exuberant D-major fanfare; chorus enters homophonically on 'Gloria in excelsis Deo'.

Teaching points

• Triadic D-major fanfare — the opening string riff outlines the tonic chord with octave leaps
• Homophonic choral entry — all four voices on the same syllables and rhythm
• AO1: rewarding rehearsal — fast tempo, simple text, immediate impact
• AO3: contrast with later movements (the slow 'Et in terra pax' is the dramatic foil)