Saturday 19 March 2016

MUSIC SATURDAY - DALL'ABACO

“If we were all determined to play the first violin we should never have an ensemble. therefore, respect every musician in his proper place.” - Robert Schumann

Evaristo Felice dall’Abaco (12 July 1675, Verona, Italy — 12 July 1742, Munich, Bavaria) was an Italian composer and cellist. Dall’Abaco was born in Verona, the son of renowned guitarist Damiano dall’Abaco. His father, after seeing his son’s musical talent in school, let him take on violin and cello lessons. He is thought to be Torelli’s pupil from whom he would have learned violin and cello.

He launched his musical career as a violinist with Tommaso Antonio Vitali in Modena, and in 1704 he joined the court of Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria as Kammermusiker. Dall’Abaco was only a few months in Munich, when he was forced to flee with the court to Brussels, following Maximilian’s defeat at the Battle of Blenheim. On Maximilian’s restoration and return to Munich, in 1715, dall’Abaco was appointed Concertmeister. He continued to compose chamber music at the French and Dutch courts until 1740 when he retired.

While in Brussels, dall’Abaco fathered a son named Joseph Abaco (1710–1805). Dall’Abaco’s music is especially indebted to Vivaldi and Corelli. However, when he went into exile with the Munich court, he spent time in France and absorbed some of the influences there.

Here are his 12 Concerti à più Istrumenti Opera Sesta, indirizzata all’Arcivescovo Ellettore di Colonia Clemente Augusto [Amsterdam, 1735]:
1. Concerto No.12 in D major [Allegro-Grave-Allegro ma non troppo] 0:09
2. Concerto No.4 in B minor [Allegro-Adagio-Allegro] 6:53
3. Concerto No.2 in E major [Allegro ma non troppo-Aria. Cantabile-Allegro assai] 14:33
4. Concerto No.3 in F major [Allegro-Largo sempre piano-Allegro e spirituoso] 22:26
5. Concerto No.1 in C major [Allegro-Largo-Presto e spiccato] 29:34
6. Concerto No.8 in D major [Allegro-Largo-Allegro] 36:48
7. Concerto No.7 in A major [Allegro-Grave-Presto] 41:58
8. Concerto No.11 in E major [Allegro-Aria. Cantabile-Allegro e spirituoso] 47:25
9. Concerto No.10 in C major [Allegro-LargoAllegro] 56:49
10 Concerto No.9 in B-flat major [Allegro ma non troppo-Largo assai-Allegro assai] 1:03:00
11. Concerto No.5 in G major [Allegro e vivace assai-Aria. Adagio cantabile-Allegro] 1:12:10
12. Concerto No.6 in F major [Allegro-Adagio-Allegro ma non troppo-Allegro assai] 1:19:39

They are performed by Il Tempio Armonico under the direction of Alberto Rasi, with solo violin played by David Monti.

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