Grosse General-Bass-Schule, Oder: Der Examplarischen organisten-probe. Zweite, verbesserte und vermehrte Auiflage, bestehend in Dreien Classen, als: In einer gründlichen Vorbereitung, In. 24. leichten Exempeln, In 24. schwerern Prob-Stücken: solcher gestalt eingerichtet dass wer die erste wol verstehet; und in den beiden andern Classen alles rein trifft; so dann das darin enthaltene gut anzubringen weiss; derselbe ein Meister im General-Bass beissen könne

Hamburg: Johann Christoph Kissners Buchladen, 1731. Quarto. Dark brown leather-backed marbled boards, red speckled edges. 1f. (recto blank, verso frontispiece), 1f. (recto title, verso blank), 18 preliminary leaves, 460 pp., with "Register" to pp. 442-459). With numerous typeset musical examples, including 2 folding plates (pp. 242-243, with pp. 241 and 244 blank, as issued). Occasional woodcut running heads and decorative head- and tailpieces.

With fine half-length engraved frontispiece portrait of the author by C. Fritzsch after Wahll within circular border with decorative curtaining to upper and outer margins.

Binding slightly worn, rubbed, and bumped; endpapers foxed and stained. Browned; outer portions of leaves dampstained; slightly cockled. Second edition, rare variant issue, newly set and slightly condensed, with title printed in black as opposed to red and black. Not in Cortot, Gregory-Bartlett, Hirsch, Wolffheim, or RISM.

Mattheson was a German composer, critic, music journalist, lexicographer, and theorist. "Among [his] valuable works ... one must cite the Grosse General-Bass-Schule (1731), an expanded version of the earlier Exemplarische Organisten-Probe (1719). These books give organists valuable assistance in learning how to improvise from a given bass, an ability vital to the daily musical responsibilities of organists at this period. The 48 examples, with Mattheson’s extensive comments on their realization, are particularly important." George J. Buelow in Grove Music Online

"The practical and artistic aspects of musicmaking were a lifelong fascination for Johann Mattheson, whose attainments as an opera singer and composer in Hamburg preceded an even more distinguished career as an author on music subjects. ... In keeping with his penchant for the practical, Mattheson compiled several works intended for keyboardists. His Exemplarische Organisten-Probe (1719) and its expanded version, Grosse General-Bass-Schule (1731), are devoted to improvisation. Two sets of twenty-four test pieces (the second more difficult than the first, and each containing a representative from every key) are presented, along with critical commentary and suggestions for attaining artistic results." Damschroder and Williams pp. 193-194. (Inventory #: 40140)