[HG] Vivaldi and the hurdy-gurdy

[Matthew Szostak]

Hi all-

Somebody recently gave me a book of sheet music, and it put the 
subject into my mind - I'm hoping that you baroque specialists can 
enlighten me.  This may have been discussed at some point in the 
past; apologies if I'm being repetitious!

I'm interested in the true origin of the music "Il Pastor Fido," 
which most of us have at least heard on one recording or another (I 
have it on Saydisc's "The Music of the Hurdy-Gurdy ... Nigel Eaton & 
Friends"), attributed to Vivaldi.

The sheet music I have credits Vivaldi for the 6 sonatas, the first 
of which is on Nigel's recording.  My music also instructs "For Flute 
and Piano", but never mind.  It is copyrighted 1965 by the 
International Music Company.

Robert Green, in the "Repertory" chapter of his book "The Hurdy-Gurdy 
in Eighteenth Century France", says of this music: "Arguably the best 
known works in this literature because of their attribution to a 
well-known name.  The individual movements of these sonatas are in 
fact arrangements of works by Vivaldi and others or at least based on 
themes by them."

What's the story here?  Did Vivaldi compose the 5 movements in this 
Sonata no.1? Or is the music based on themes by him?  Or is it the 
work of some un-named "other"?  And who made the arrangements that we 
now accept?

~ Matt