Die Dietrichstein-Manuskripte, Bd. 1 Zweistimmige Kanons und Duette by Antonio Salieri 2-Part - Sheet Music

SKU: HF.FH-3616

ISBN 9790203436164. 9 x 12 inches.

In his will, Antonio Salieri bequeathed almost all of his compositions to the Viennese "Society of Widows and Orphans of Musicians," and his singing method, canons, and songs to the Vienna Conservatory. The only exception was four small volumes, bound in red leather, with their accompanying cases. These were given to the Prince of Dietrichstein as a token of his deep gratitude.
Until now, it was assumed that these four books filled with Salieri's compositions had not survived the ages. Now, musicologist Dr. Timo Jouko Herrmann has discovered these volumes by a stroke of luck. And so, they will be published here for the first time.
It is assumed that Salieri received the four elaborately designed volumes, along with their accompanying case, as a gift from Prince Franz Joseph von Dietrichstein in Weidlingau – presumably with the request to record in them those canons, duets and trios that had been composed or performed during various country outings and journeys in the company of the Prince.
The first two volumes contain 50 and 37 works for two voices a cappella, respectively; the other two volumes contain 35 and 27 compositions for three voices a cappella, respectively. Each volume was provided with a table of contents by Salieri – presumably later.
The majority of the compositions in the four volumes are in Italian, many of them based on Salieri's own spontaneously composed verses. Besides his own texts, Salieri frequently set popular proverbs and maxims, as well as verses from Italian opera, oratorio, and cantata libretti by poets such as Pietro Metastasio, Carlo Goldoni, Lorenzo Da Ponte, and Pietro Bagnoli. Some of the works are also based on Latin, German, and French texts. German authors represented include Friedrich Schiller, Johann Gottlieb Herder, Gottlieb Konrad Pfeffel, and Heinrich Wilhelm Schlegel. French authors such as Nicolas Boileau and Jean-François de la Harpe are also represented.
The compositions collected in the four volumes demonstrate Salieri as a master of the small form, who could sketch a composition with great spontaneity from a specific situation.