About this Item
1st Edition. Hardcover. Small folio [10" x 13" ] with 58 pages of Corelli (1673-1713) & 25 of Felice Giardini (1716-1796), (paginated separately). Bound in the original marbled paper boards, with leather spine, this volume of music is still in very good condition, especially given its almost three centuries of age. the covers show wear, especially along the edges & corners; but the marbled paper is reasonably well preserved - a lovely example of the hand-made marbling that was popular in the early 1700s - this particular design was 'combed-in' by hand, creating a wavy ribbon effect over a background of blue dappled paint. Untitled Spine has five raised bands, without decoration. A small piece [1" x ½"] of leather is chipped away at the bottom of the spine, & the spine is just beginning at the heel. Original end-papers, free of any ownership or library markings throughout. Paper is high-quality rag, remarkably bright & clear, with the exception of the outer corners of the pages, which show some darkening from having been turned frequently. The frontispiece is a fine engraved portrait of Arcangelo Corelli, by Van der Gucht after a work by H. Howard. Each page of music, as well as each title page, with strong plate impressions. All pages & plates are present & tightly bound. There are 18 sonatas in all, for solo violin & bass accompaniment [12 by Corelli, 6 by Giardini]. The initial title page to this very rare collection of violin & bass sonatas by Arcangelo Corelli & Felice Giardini reads, "XII Solos for a Violin with a thorough bass for the Harpsicord or Violoncello. Composd by Arcangelo Corelli. Opera Quinta. N.B. These Solos are Printed from a curious Edition Publishd at Rome by the Author. London. Printed for & Sold by I. Walsh, in Catherine Street in Strand, of whom may be had all the Works of Corelli (viz) his Sonatas & Concertos in Parts & in Score". The second title page, which appears after the first six sonatas, reads, "The Second Part Containing Preludes, Allemands, Corants, Jiggs, Sarabands, Gavots, & ye Follia. By Arcangelo Corelli." The third title page, which introduces six sonatas by Giardini, reads, "Sei Sonate a Violino solo e Basso. Composte dall Sig. Felice Degiardino, Dedicate al Merito Sublime dell Ill. mo Sigr. Conte de Turpin Brigadiere, dell Armata di sua Maestra Cristianissimia e Collonello dun Regimento dUssari. Opera Prima. London, Printed for R. Bremner Opposite Somerset House in the Strand, of whom may he had Composed by the same Author , Six Duets for two Violins, Op. 210.6, Six Sonatas for the Harpd . Op 3 10.6, Six Overtures, Op 1- 15., Six Song in score Dedicated to the Duchess of Malborough Op. 5 - 10.6, The songs in the opera Enea E Lavinia - 2.6". Original scores for violin and bass continuo printed & in use in Corellis & Giardinis day. The Corelli works may well have been printed before the Giardini scores, as it was common practice for musicians to bind various music scores from different publishers into a single volume. The Corelli frontispiece & scores are almost certainly from 1740 or earlier. Arcangelo Corelli (1673-1713) was born in Italy & began his musical career playing as an assistant to the first violin in the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome. He was also a pupil of the great Bernardo Pasquini, who had studied under the master violinist Frescobaldi. With his talent, Corelli quickly surpassed his peers, & was named dir. of the violins at the Church of San Luigi. Because of his exquisite playing, he was sometimes referred to as "the archangel of the violin." He was even Better recognized for his composing, & his music was in great demand by the musicians of his day. Corelli believed that music should transcend culture & locale, & strove to create music that was uniquely his, independent of the Italian or French or Viennese influence. His style helped to define the music of the Baroque era. Seller Inventory # 33323
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