Dall'Abaco's cello sonatas and duos combine French grace, German logic, and Italian virtuosity, offering a wide range of technical demands and musical variety.
Composer Biography
Giuseppe Clemente Dall'Abaco, a virtuoso cellist-composer, enjoyed a flourishing career and traveled to major musical centers in Europe, including London, Paris, and Vienna.
Composition History
The album features the first recording of three of Dall'Abaco's 35 cello sonatas and all three of his cello duos.
Historical Context
The cello gained popularity in Europe during the 1730s and 1740s, with prominent composer-performers like Dall'Abaco contributing to its repertoire.
Historical Context
British music historian Charles Burney listed Dall'Abaco among notable cellists who helped bring the violoncello into favor in England.
Instruments
The cellos used in this recording include one made by Karl Dennis in 2017 after a 1708 Stradivari, and another by Robert Thompson from 1752.
Compositional Technique
Dall'Abaco's cello duos typically feature melodic material introduced by one cello, then repeated by the other, often dissolving into shared melodies in parallel thirds or sixths.
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