I just couldn't resist the challenge.

Here's one of Oswald's seasonal airs with a continuo part for the 
English guittar:
http://www.musicaviva.com/ranunculus-eng.pdf

The second fiddle part is from a book Oswald published in 1756 (with 
second parts to all the airs) and is optional. With both a flute and a 
fiddle present they may both play the lead or the fiddle may take the 
second part.

The bass part is of course optional once there's a chord instrument 
present, but a cello would definitely enrichen the sound.

The English guittar part is a fairly straight continuo realisation, 
perhaps slightly more complicated and with fuller chords than strictly 
necessary. Lots of parallel movements and stuff there, but in this 
context I don't think that matters much. It's definitely for 
fingerpicking. Oswald's divertimenti seems to have been intended for 
plectrum playing, but that doesn't seem to work well here. Some of the 
open first course notes might work better on thrid fret second course, 
but apart from that the fingering is fairly obvious all the way.

This may well be very close to what David's 18th century cittern 
ensemble would have played.

If I can find the time, I'd like to give a few more of Oswald's airs 
(and perhaps other similar music from the same period too), but I have 
three questions first:

1) Does this look reasonably authientic?

2) Does the continuo part suit the English guittar well enough?

3) Is there any chance anybody will ever actually play this?

Oh btw, the file won't be at this URL indefinitely, so those who want to 
have a look better grab it at once.


Frank Nordberg
http://www.musicaviva.com
http://www.tablatvre.com



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