Fernando Sor: The Complete Italian Arietts,
Italian Duets, and the Three Canons
Some notes October 2008, which may be helpful to
singers. En español
Perhaps it is a good moment now for singers and pianists
to give attention to the arietas of Sor, because the first CD devoted
solely to them has just appeared. If
you explore them you will be delighted! Here are a few notes about them
which may be helpful.
In the following list, for example 2, 1 = Set 2 no. 1. Book 1 p. 15 =
Book 1 of my edition of Sor's The
Complete Italian Arietts etc. page
15.
There are eleven collections or sets of three arietas each. The most
advanced ones musically are in the sixth to tenth collections. On the
poetic texts and on many details, there is commentary in the
introduction to my edition.
2, 1 La notte è placida. Book 1 p. 15. Passionate.
4, 3 Filen riprendi l’arco. Book 1 p. 57. “Cupid, take your bow back!”
Full of humour. With lots of movement, I think fairly fast not slow. (At
that time Andante y Andantino did not mean “slow”! They meant “with
movement”, “moving along”, it was a way of singing or playing, and not a
speed. This is well explained in the article Andante in the New Grove
Dictionary.)
5, 2 Perduta l’anima. Book 1 p. 68. Pretty melody.
5, 3 Un fanciullin tiranno. Book 1 p. 72. Another in the style of “Filen
riprendi l’arco”.
With the sixth collection we arrive at the more advanced ones. All these
are worth exploring.
6, 2 Lagrime mie d’affanno. Book 1 p. 80. Pretty melody.
6, 3 Io mormoro invano. Book 1 p. 83. Much humour, much movement, so it
seems to me.
8, 3 La più vezzosa e più gentil. Book 2, p. 10. A splendid melody!
“1”, 2 (this collection or set is called “1” on its title-page, but it
isn’t the true first set. It was published between the 8th and 9th
sets.)
Mi lascia l’infida. Book 2, p. 22. Fine, lots of movement.
9, 1 Mi giuri che m’ami. Book 2, p. 30. A fine piano part.
10, 1 Guarda che bianca luna. Book 2, p. 46. Very beautiful and
romantic, quite advanced.
10, 2 Lungi da te. Book 2, p. 50. In Spanish style! Good counterpoint
between voice and piano.
10, 3 Volate più de’ venti. Book 2, p. 53. Very advanced.
All the duets for two voices and piano (they are all in Book Two of my edition) seem very
advanced, well worth exploring.
Brian Jeffery
Fernando Sor- The
Complete Italian Arietts etc., main page
Tecla main page.
Copyright 2008 by Tecla Editions. Errors and
omissions excepted.
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