Concerto for Two Trumpets in C major, RV537

RV 537 is the only concerto Vivaldi wrote for two trumpets, and it stands slightly apart from the rest of his output: the natural trumpet of the early eighteenth century could play only the notes of the harmonic series, so the writing turns that limitation into a game of echo, imitation and fanfare between the two soloists. The manuscript is preserved in Turin and carries no date or dedication. Three short movements follow the standard fast, slow, fast plan, with the trumpets silent in the central Largo and the strings left alone.