Sinfonia in C Major for Strings and Basso Continuo

This piece was "internationally premiered" in Albuquerque in the 1st of March in the Hyatt Regency hotel, as part of the my school's performance for the American String Teachers Association 2008 conference. The piece was well received, and I think it's time I show the YC community.

It's in C Major (duh) and is written for strings (second duh). It has some figurisation, but this figurisation is mostly wrong.

It's available at the Werner Icking Music Archive (home page) here, but I've provided a MIDI and MUS file for those who desire it.

This is good, very good. I liked all the movments, the thrid was the best, i feel there is a lot of baroque in this, and some classical, its realy impressive, i hope to hear more form you.!

Thanks. People have commented on this as a very nice pastiche; someone had jokingly accused me of plagiarism once on this piece.

Props to you - this is very well crafted and would have done Vivaldi proud!

Small question though: it says basso continuo but I didn't hear the continuo (unless I missed it).

Originally Posted by cygnusdei

Props to you

Thanks.

Originally Posted by cygnusdei

this is very well crafted and would have done Vivaldi proud!

Originally Posted by cygnusdei

Small question though: it says basso continuo but I didn't hear the continuo (unless I missed it).

I didn't want to waste time creating the other channels for other basso continuo instruments (violone, harpsichord, theorbo, etc.) while generating the MIDI, so I just left those alone; I may consider re-uploading the MIDI with continuo realisation.

As you probably do know, the basso continuo staff (in this piece marked as "Fondamento") would have been for all instruments in the basso continuo grouping, and therefore there would be no need for other staves (except some urtext and non-urtext editions of piece add these realisations for ease on the side of the performer). I've included some rudimentary figuring on the Fondamento staff, but they may be incorrect, unfortunately; I am aiming to repair these.

Does anyone else have any additional comments?

I was about to criticize the continuo, but I see that you acknowledge it is not properly figured. I might be able to advise if you need any help with that.

Otherwise I think it sounded quite polished, although I wish the third movement had more substance. But I think in this period the third movement was often short. Truthfully my instrumental interests are in the sonatas of a slightly earlier period; this, on the the other hand, sounds very late Baroque, with the style galant creeping in. But very well done. I liked the descending chromatic harmonies.

Do you contribute music to the Werner Icking Archive very often? I have found some very rare music there and am very grateful to have it.

Nice piece. I could listen to this more often ! I was interested to see you mention the theorbo as a possible continuo instrument. I've found it rarely considered these days (apart from some Purcell & Monteverdi performances). I did play theorbo continuo years ago, & had to develop a different figuring method to suit lute instruments. The normal figuring for keyboards didn't seem to work as well as it could have.
I think the slower movement would have been good for theorbo. It would sound nice with a lute stop on harpsichord, & the bass doesn't move too quickly for lute.
Thanks for sharing it with us.

This sounds better than some baroque pieces that I have performed....great...even in MIDI i could hear the melodies and chords come through I definitely loved some of those unisons and trills. The only thing I must comment on is the beginning...something seemed a bit off there, perhaps it was the MIDI not sure though but overall..good job!! Hope that you post more works...how long did it take to compose in its entire btw?

I really liked this composition. It composition was polished, pleasant yet unassuming; it will be interesting to hear what you are writing in five years time or so. The first movement was particularly pleasing, though the seemingly inopportune Vivaldi quotation in bars 21 and 22 made me raise an eyebrow.

Was a recording made? String writing can't be realised even vaguely believably by MIDI.