Bettina Hoffmann
Catalogue of Solo and Chamber Music for Viola da Gamba
Several transcribers (Franz Xaver Hammer and others)
transcriptions from: Grétry, P. A. Guglielmi, Paisiello
13 pieces in D major (sonata movements and transcriptions of pieces from operas) for viola da gamba, violoncello and 2 horns
2 pieces in G major and in A major (transcriptions of pieces from operas) for viola da gamba, violoncello and violin
manuscript
D-SWl Mus 539
Index of contents: https://www.violadagambanetwork.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/D-SWl-539.pdf
Among the transcribed works, one piece can be identified from «La sposa fedele» by P. A. Guglielmi of 1767, revived in Berlin in 1777 under the title «Robert und Kalliste», a title that is mentioned in this manuscript. The post quem date is based on this last clue. The other opera titles are «Re Theodor» (probably Paisiello’s «Re Teodoro in Venezia», Wien, 1784) and «Azor» (probably Grétry’s «Zamir et Azor», Fontainebleau, 1771).
The first pieces are assembled under the title of Sonata à Viola da gamba. The arrangement of the manuscript suggests that some of the pieces were also performed for viola da gamba and cello alone: these two parts are grouped together on the same pages, while the horn parts and a further copy of the cello part are in a volume of different format. Two pieces, without horn parts, also include the violin.
Among the copyists of the manuscript is Franz Xaver Hammer, a viol player and cellist, who moved to Schwerin in the 1780s.
The unusual arrangement of these pieces is similar to the Stamitz Sextet (see), which the composer sent to Schwerin in 1790. Also common to both manuscripts is the notation of the violin, which is one semitone higher than that of the viola da gamba.
