Bettina Hoffmann
Catalogue of Solo and Chamber Music for Viola da Gamba
author
Telemann, Georg Philipp
1681-1767
work information
Concerto a 4: Violetta, violino primo, violino secundo et cembalo.
Concert in A major for viola da gamba (?) and orchestra, TWV 51:A5
manuscript
scoring
vb (?) + orch
where
further information
notes
The solo instrument of the concert is called “violetta”, a term that - especially in peripheral sources such as this - is quite generic and can mean both a da braccio and a da gamba instrument. Some arpeggios in the last movement (b. 73-80) hint to the viola da gamba, but are playable as well on an instrument tuned by fifths. The part is written in tenor clef (C4), its overall range is c#-h’, so limited to less than two octaves. A tenor viola da braccio, tuned e’-a-d-G, could be a possible alternative for this part.
RISM
