1736 · London
by GEMINIANI, Francesco 1687-1762
London: Printed for and Sold by I: Walsh, Musick Printer, and Instrument maker to his Majesty, at the Harp and Hoboy, in Catherine Street, in the Strand, 1736. 7 volumes. Folio. Sewn.
1) Violino primo concertino: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), 5, [i] (blank), 7-21, [i] (blank) pp.
2) Violino secondo concertino: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-9, [i] (blank), 11-15 (11-13 hautboy primo) pp.
3) Violino primo ripieno [Violino secondo in Concerto V]: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2, with secondary page 3 Hoboy primo, 4-14 pp.
4) Violino secondo ripieno: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2, with secondary page 3 Hoboy secondo), 4-12 pp.
5) Alto viola: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 9 pp.
6) Violoncello [Basso ripieno, Violoncello del concertino]: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), 3-7, [i] (blank), 9-12, [i] (blank), 14-16 pp.
7) Basso continuo: 1f. 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-7, [i] (blank), 9-14 pp.
Each concerto with contemporary numbering in brown ink to head of first page of music.
Disbound, with spines reinforced with paper tape. Slightly worn and browned; occasional soiling and staining. First Edition in this form. Rare. Careri-Italian p. 296, 17. Smith & Humphries 1362. BUC p. 940. RISM Écrits p. 145 (two copies only in the U.S.).
"The collection contains three concertos by Geminiani [Nos. 2, 3, and 4], one by G. Facco, one by Handel (III/4), and one [by an] unnamed composer." Careri-English p. 271
"The publication of the Concertos Opus 2 and Opus 3 in 1732 had confirmed Geminiani's status as one the foremost composers of instrumental music active in England at the time. Certainly the London music publisher John Walsh wanted to realize profits from this status by publishing further concertos by Geminiani, now not from a score provided by the composer but rather from manuscripts circulating in London. Three concertos – probably early works of the composer – were published as installments of a series of Select Concertos, in 1734. They were reissued in a single publication titled Select Harmony, Third Collection, in 1735. This publication also contains an anonymous concerto with two oboe parts that can with certainty be ascribed to Geminiani and certainly a recent work." Rudolf Rasch: "The Thirty-One Works of Francesco Geminiani." geminiani.sites.uu.nl
"Geminiani's concertos are characterized by firm harmonic stability. Modulations are frequent but usually transitory; however, they were perceived as individual and characteristic. ‘It is observable’, wrote Hawkins, ‘upon the works of Geminiani, that his modulations are not only original, but that his harmonies consist of such combinations as were never introduced into music till his time’. It was the variety of transitory modulations that surprised Hawkins, rather than the harmonic organization of the whole movement, which was in itself unoriginal. The perceived novelty was not so much in the choice of new keys as in the way of arriving at them and in preparing the modulations." Enrico Careri in Grove Music Online. (Inventory #: 40018)
1) Violino primo concertino: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), 5, [i] (blank), 7-21, [i] (blank) pp.
2) Violino secondo concertino: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-9, [i] (blank), 11-15 (11-13 hautboy primo) pp.
3) Violino primo ripieno [Violino secondo in Concerto V]: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2, with secondary page 3 Hoboy primo, 4-14 pp.
4) Violino secondo ripieno: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2, with secondary page 3 Hoboy secondo), 4-12 pp.
5) Alto viola: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 9 pp.
6) Violoncello [Basso ripieno, Violoncello del concertino]: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), 3-7, [i] (blank), 9-12, [i] (blank), 14-16 pp.
7) Basso continuo: 1f. 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-7, [i] (blank), 9-14 pp.
Each concerto with contemporary numbering in brown ink to head of first page of music.
Disbound, with spines reinforced with paper tape. Slightly worn and browned; occasional soiling and staining. First Edition in this form. Rare. Careri-Italian p. 296, 17. Smith & Humphries 1362. BUC p. 940. RISM Écrits p. 145 (two copies only in the U.S.).
"The collection contains three concertos by Geminiani [Nos. 2, 3, and 4], one by G. Facco, one by Handel (III/4), and one [by an] unnamed composer." Careri-English p. 271
"The publication of the Concertos Opus 2 and Opus 3 in 1732 had confirmed Geminiani's status as one the foremost composers of instrumental music active in England at the time. Certainly the London music publisher John Walsh wanted to realize profits from this status by publishing further concertos by Geminiani, now not from a score provided by the composer but rather from manuscripts circulating in London. Three concertos – probably early works of the composer – were published as installments of a series of Select Concertos, in 1734. They were reissued in a single publication titled Select Harmony, Third Collection, in 1735. This publication also contains an anonymous concerto with two oboe parts that can with certainty be ascribed to Geminiani and certainly a recent work." Rudolf Rasch: "The Thirty-One Works of Francesco Geminiani." geminiani.sites.uu.nl
"Geminiani's concertos are characterized by firm harmonic stability. Modulations are frequent but usually transitory; however, they were perceived as individual and characteristic. ‘It is observable’, wrote Hawkins, ‘upon the works of Geminiani, that his modulations are not only original, but that his harmonies consist of such combinations as were never introduced into music till his time’. It was the variety of transitory modulations that surprised Hawkins, rather than the harmonic organization of the whole movement, which was in itself unoriginal. The perceived novelty was not so much in the choice of new keys as in the way of arriving at them and in preparing the modulations." Enrico Careri in Grove Music Online. (Inventory #: 40018)
(516) 922 2192![The Second Collection of Pieces for the Harpsichord. Taken from different Works of F. Geminiani, And adapted by Himself to that Instrument. [Harpsichord transcriptions]](https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/h/754/724/1631724754.0.m.jpg)
