Very little is known about the two sonatas which appear here in their original keys. They were placed in the library of the Music School in Oxford at the end of the seventeenth century in a form convenient for playing (i.e.unbound). The library was catalogued by Hake between 1850 and 1855 and the sonatas were eventually bound in 1855 with other instrumental and vocal manuscripts of the same period, some of which are dated 1698.

Thesonatas are both inscribed on the title page Sonata à Violone Solo. Col Basso per l'Organo, o Cembalo. A third sonata bears the words Sonata à Violino e Violoncino … di Giovannino del Violone.Giovannino(=Little, or Young John) must have been a performer, and although the third sonata has been copied by a different hand, it is conceivable that Giovannino is a connecting link between the three. He cannot, however, beassumed to be their author.

The Violone was a six-stringed instrument with frets, and there is evidence to suggest that the Contrabasso of the same period was similar but probably a little larger; the Violoncino(=Little Violone, or Violoncello) must have been smaller. The word 'Violone' was also used as a collective term embracing all members of the Viol family, which means that the sonatas might well have been written for a tenor or abass Viol, and not necessarily a Violone as such. Indeed, when they are played on a Violone, or Double Bass the continuo bass line must be played at a lower pitch than the solo instrument, to prevent inversion of the intendedharmony. (The use of a Violone/Double Bass continuo or 16' organ tone would overcome this problem.)

The editor has added no ornaments or embellishments to the solo part as it appears in the original manuscript. It isopen to debate whether a Violone player, owing to the very nature of his instrument, would have used any but the simplest melodic decorations. Nevertheless, the performer should acquaint himself thoroughly with those seventeenthcentury traditions that

SKU: HL.48182907

UPC: 888680904944. 9.0x12.0x0.144 inches.

“Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano by Edison Demisov was composed in1970 and covers three movements. The first part, Allegro, shows serialism; the second, Lento, focuses on new techniques; with the last one, Allegro Moderato, reminiscent of Jazz music. This strong>Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano, dedicated to the French Saxophonist Jean-Marie Londeix, was strongly influenced by Western European music and requires a certain level of ability (intermediate to advanced players), especially for the second movement. Edison Demisov (1929-1996) was a Russian, Siberian-born, composer specialising in alternative / non-conformist Soviet music. Strongly influenced by the West, he was often criticised by his peers. He gained international recognition for the composition 'Le soleil des Incas' (1964) and wrote numerous concerti, sonatas and other pieces.”.