Concerto for Strings in C major RV 114

Vivaldi wrote almost 60 ripieno concerts, mainly
for strings and without a clear soloist, which closely resemble Vivaldi’s
operatic sinfonias. RV 114 survives in a collection known as the ‘Paris
Manuscripts’, purely because they are held at the library at the Paris conservatoire. Their
copyist was Vivaldi’s father, Giovanni Battista, and although 10 of the
concerts appear in other collections, the Paris
manuscript of RV 114 is the only one existing. The most likely recipient of the
concertos was Jacques-Vincent Languet, Comte de Cergy, who served as French
ambassador to Venice
from 1723 to 1731. The two extra concertos are clearly a homage to the patron,
exhibiting hints of motifs which are specifically French in style. The concerto
opens with a festive ritornello theme of arpeggiated dotted rhythms, such as
found in the French overture. After a short adagio movement consisting of just
three chords, Vivaldi concludes the work with an unusual, elegant and
motivically rich chaconne.