Domenico Gabrielli, a cello virtuoso, composed demanding repertoire for the cello, challenging the violin's dominance as a solo instrument.
Compositional Technique
Gabrielli's cello music has a clear improvisational character, requiring advanced techniques, and is considered to represent the technical and idiomatic birth of the cello as a soloist.
Composer Biography
Alessandro Scarlatti, a renowned opera composer, held the cello in high esteem, giving it important roles in his chamber cantatas and dedicating three instrumental sonatas to it.
Compositional Technique
A notable characteristic of Scarlatti's cello sonatas is the short length of some movements, which the performers interpret as musical gestures rather than complete pieces.
Interpretation
For this recording, the performers chose not to follow exact temperament examples from Gabrielli's or Scarlatti's time, instead aiming for pure thirds in harmony.
Recording & Production
The pieces on this album are presented in a sequence similar to an ideal concert, utilizing modern recording technology to allow for sudden changes in pitch level, temperaments, and scordaturas.
Interpretation
The performers based their chosen tempi on the 'tactus per battuta' practice of the time, close to the human heartbeat (60-80 bpm), varying according to key and tempo markings.
You might also enjoy...
Bach : Suites pour violoncelle seul (Intégrale)
J.S. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas, BWV 1001–1006
J.S. Bach: The Cello Suites According to Anna Magdalena
Six Suites for Violoncello Solo, BWV 1007-1012
Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 2, 4 & 6
J.S. Bach: Cello Suites
Bach, J.S.: Cello Suites Nos. 1-6, Bwv 1007-1012
Bach: Cello Solo Suites
Bach: Suites for Solo Cello
Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1-6
Bach: The Suites for Violoncello solo; Sonatas for Viola da gamba & Harpsichord BWV 1028 & 1029
