>
> 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
I'd agree with others that this may not be very authentic. I don't think I've
ever seen guittar music in G minor. There's a small amount of chamber music for
the guittar - e.g. by Giordini. Here's a typical page from the 1760 set of
six 'trii' for cetra, violin and bass ('cello):
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.walsh
It's just like typical guittar music. Although it may look like this is for a
plectrum instrument, it's almost certainly for normal fingerstyle (and
nail-less) playing. Note the violino and violoncello parts are marked 'con
sordino'.
I don't think that the guittar was thought of as a continuo instrument - but
more like a melody instrument with double and treble stopping and even some
chords.
But I certainly hope someone does play your arrangements.
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