CAP011
French & Italian Duets for 2 Bass Viols
Sonatas by Somis, Montanari, Mascitti and Corelli (Recueil des plus belles Sonates a basse de Viole avec accompagnement ou à deux basses sans Violon par les meilleurs Auteurs François et Italien, D-Bds KHM6208)
These Sonatas are 18th century arrangements of Violin Sonatas popular in Paris at the time. They were chosen as ideal candidates as pieces for 2 Bass Viols, because the top part is fairly easy and the Continuo part is often busy and can therefore create the effect of a duet more easily. The original treble clef (to be played an octave lower on the bass viol) has been kept here and editorial figures have been added to the bass part to give the performer the option of playing these pieces as solo sonatas, as suggested in the title.
Giovanni Battista Somis: Sonata 1 in d minor (Adagio - Allegro - Allegro); GB Somis: Sonata 2 in G major (Adagio - Allegro - Vivace); Arcangelo Corelli: Sonata 3 (op.5, no 9) in A major ([Largo] - Giga - Adagio -[Tempo di Gavotta]); Michele Mascitti: Sonata 4 in A Major (Allegro - Largo - Allegro - [Menuet] - Presto); Antonio (Maria) Montanari: Sonata 5 in C Major (Adagio - Allegro -Presto)
Published in 2002. Figured score, unfigured score, solo part