This is a curious little piece for the 18th century wire-strung guittar
from an equally curious publication. It is Serenata IX from ' XII
Serenata's [sic] for the Guittar' from the late 1750s and it has the
additional title, 'St Mary Overves Bells'. I can't find anything to
explain the word 'overves'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mADlRK7qhjY
The title page says: "XII Serenata's for the GUITTAR compos'd by Antonio
Pereyra Da Costa," Mestre de sa do Funchal. A composer with that name
did exist in the middle of the 18th century but the late James Tyler
supposed that the actual composer was James Oswald. Rob Mackillop
agrees: James Oswald wrote under pseudonyms; Oswald was the publisher of
this music and the Serenatas (apart from this striking piece) are
similar to Oswald's Twelve Divertimentis (in style, and even in layout
on the page).
But Manuel Morais (in 2001) thought it was early Portuguese guittara
music and Antonio Caldeira Cabral has recorded one of the Serenatas on a
CD of Portuguese guittara music along with the music of Silva Leite and
Vidigal (both from the 1790s and unequivocally Portuguese).
I'd go for Oswald. But I wonder why Oswald thought that a Portuguese
name would be a good seller for the newly fashionable instrument.
Stuart
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