12 Sonatas for Violin and Figured Bass [Op. 1] (1716) (H. 1-12) - 12 Sonatas for Violin and Figured Bass [Op. 1] (Revised, 1739) (H. 13-24)
[Opera Omnia - Vol. 1A]
Critical Edition
Critical Edition founded by Christopher Hogwood
General Editor: Rudolf Rasch - Editorial Assistant: Ana Lombardía González
Comitato scientifico: Clive Brown, Enrico Careri, Peter Holman, Sandra Mangsen, Richard Maunder, Fulvia Morabito, Rudolf Rasch (Chairman), Rupert Ridgewell, Robin Stowell, Michael Talbot, Peter Walls, Neal Zaslaw
Of all the leading composers of the 18th century, only Francesco Geminiani (1687-1762) is lacking a complete critical edition of his music and writings. Although held to be the equal of Corelli in his own day - and indeed thought by some to be superior to his contemporary Handel in instrumental composition - a surprisingly large proportion of his compositions have never been reissued since his lifetime, and with the exception of a few solo sonatas and his treatises on “good taste“ and violin playing, Geminiani is largely ignored by the baroque taste of the present day.
The lack of availability of his music in scrupulous modern editions designed for practical performance has concealed the enormous originality he showed both in writing and re-writing his own music, and that of his teacher, Corelli. His adaptations and re-workings have never to date been presented fully and in a form that allows for pertinent comparison, and the majority of his music has not been revisited by musicologists for the last half century.
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the composer’s death in 2012, Francesco Geminiani Opera Omnia will present all his works, instrumental, vocal and didactic, in full critical editions, with the composer’s first versions, revisions and re-workings presented consecutively by opus number, including a full critical commentary and facsimiles, together with practical editions and complete performance material for the orchestral and chamber works. The didactic treatises issued in English will be accompanied by Italian, French or German translations of the period, where these exist, together with full commentaries from modern authorities.
The Geminiani Opera Omnia is supplemented by Geminiani Studies, a volume of sixteen essays by international scholars on Geminiani's compositions and theoretical works, his art dealing and experiences with Freemasonry and the law, and his reception throughout history and in performance today.
Preface and Critical Commentary in English
