by Bob OrdComposed by: Charles AvisonThird movement from first of six concertos Whilst thumbing my way through the music index in the library of the Literary and Philosophical Society, Newcastle upon Tyne, looking for some music by Locatelli (it was his music that was used to support the hoax in the 1960s about P.D.Q. Bach) I saw that the library had 12 concertos by him bound up with some music by a local composer Charles Avison.
Upon examining the books I came across six concertos for four violins, a viola and a violoncello, with a thorough bass for harpsichord, dedicated to Mrs Ord. Intrigued by the reference to my surname, I asked for photocopies of the books published in 1751, to be made at my own expense. Mr Avison, commenting in the preface upon the number of instruments to give the best effect, states: And 1ft I wou'd propofe, exclufive of the four Principal Parts, which muft always be complete, that the Chorus of other Inftruments fhou'd not exceed the Number following, viz fix Primo and four fecondo Ripienos; four Ripieno Baffes, and two Double Baffes and a Harpfichord. Let us look at what Mr Avison means: 1 Primo concertino (Solo) violin 1 Secondo concertino violin 1 Concertino violoncello (cello) 6 Primo Ripieno (Chorus) violins 4 Secondo Ripieno violins 4 Violoncellos 2 Double basses 1 Harpsichord 20 players: "Ugh! 10 max, 9 usable" 23 voices assuming the harpsichord has four: "Well I've got 16 with the Music 3000" 46 channels: "Hel---lp!!!! Hybrid" So how does one realise this sort of music with AMPLE? Disregarding Mr Avison's helpful advice I merged the Concertino violins with the Ripieno violins, 2 parts instead of 4, using the Echo effect with a minimal delay during tutti and a single voice during the solos. A part for the viola again doubled using Echo for effect and the same for the cello, 8 voices 4 players so far. One part, voice and player each for the bass fiddle and the left hand of the harpsichord and 1 part, 3 voices and 1 player for the right hand of the harpsichord once I'd figured out the thorough bass. That came to a total of 13 voices and 7 players. "Mmm, got to use the 3000." Still, I've managed to do a dual version, but those of you who are listening to the Music 5000 version have a bass fiddle missing and, of course, no Echoed parts. Hope you enjoy the music, Bob Ord. P.S. A good book on figured bass is: Thorough Bass Made Easy by Nicolo Pasquali Oxford University Press published a facsimile of the 1763 edition in 1974. |
Source: AMPLINEX 021 disk, file $.AMOROSO |
Published in AMPLINEX 021, March 1991
