
The Scoring of Baroque Concertos
Richard Maunder(Author)
Boydell Press
Published on 15. June 2004
Book
Hardback
295 pages
978-1-84383-071-9 (ISBN)
Description
Evidence indicates that the concertos of Vivaldi, Bach, Haydn etc were performed as chamber music, not the full orchestral works commonly assumed.
The concertos of Vivaldi, Bach, Handel and their contemporaries are some of the most popular, and the most frequently performed, pieces of classical music; and the assumption has always been they were full orchestral works. This book takes issue with this orthodox opinion to argue quite the reverse: that contemporaries regarded the concerto as chamber music. The author surveys the evidence, from surviving printed and manuscript performance material, from concerts throughout Europe between 1685 and 1750 (the heyday of the concerto), demonstrating that concertos were nearly always played one-to-a-part at that time. He makes a particularly close study of the scoring of the bass line,discussing the question of what instruments were most appropriate and what was used when.
The late Dr RICHARD MAUNDER was Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge.
The concertos of Vivaldi, Bach, Handel and their contemporaries are some of the most popular, and the most frequently performed, pieces of classical music; and the assumption has always been they were full orchestral works. This book takes issue with this orthodox opinion to argue quite the reverse: that contemporaries regarded the concerto as chamber music. The author surveys the evidence, from surviving printed and manuscript performance material, from concerts throughout Europe between 1685 and 1750 (the heyday of the concerto), demonstrating that concertos were nearly always played one-to-a-part at that time. He makes a particularly close study of the scoring of the bass line,discussing the question of what instruments were most appropriate and what was used when.
The late Dr RICHARD MAUNDER was Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge.
Reviews / Votes
This is a fascinating book that every baroque soloist and conductor should read and I'm sure it will have a profound influence on the performance of these works in the future - -- Adrian Butterfield * EARLY MUSIC TODAY * Maunder's book is thorough, thought provoking and packed with minute, fascinating detail. - -- Andrew Manze * EARLY MUSIC *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Woodbridge
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
1 s/w Abbildung
1 b/w illus.
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
611 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84383-071-9 (9781843830719)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Richard Maunder