Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741) was an Italian composer and violinist, considered among the greatest exponents of Baroque music. A priest, although unable to celebrate mass for health reasons, he was called "the Red Priest" due to the color of his hair. He was one of the most virtuosic violinists of his time and one of the greatest composers of Baroque music. Considered the most important, influential and original Italian musician of his era, Vivaldi contributed significantly to the development of the concerto, especially solo (a genre initiated by Giuseppe Torelli), and of violin technique and orchestration. Furthermore, he did not neglect opera in music and his vast compositional work also includes numerous concerts, sonatas and pieces of sacred music.

His works influenced numerous composers of his time including the greatest Baroque genius Johann Sebastian Bach, but also Pisendel, Heinichen, Zelenka, Boismortier, Corrette, De Fesch, Quantz. His best-known compositions are the four violin concertos known as The Four Seasons, a famous example of subject music. As with many Baroque composers, his name and music fell into oblivion after his death. Only thanks to the research of some 20th century musicologists, such as Arnold Schering, Marc Pincherle, Alberto Gentili, Alfredo Casella and Gian Francesco Malipiero, his name and his works became famous again, becoming one of the best known and most performed composers.

The Credo in E Minor (RV 591) is the only extant setting of the Nicene Creed by Antonio Vivaldi. Another setting exists (RV 592) but is of dubious authenticity. RV 591 has four movements. In a style similar to his psalm setting of In exitu Israel (RV 604), the first movement adorns the chorus' simple rhythms of crotchets and minims with the orchestra playing semiquavers and quavers. The second movement is a brief choral episode in the stile antico, borrowing thematic material from the composer's Magnificat. The fourth movement is based on a semiquaver-quaver motif similar to the first movement, and closes with a fugue. Note that the first (and final) movements open with a motif which bears similarity to a brief passage found in the first movement of the Gloria (RV 588).

Source: Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credo_(Vivaldi)).

Although originally written for Chorus (SATB), Strings and Continuo, I created this Interpretation of "Credo" (RV 591) for Winds (Flute, Oboe, French Horn & Bassoon) and Strings (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).