Dragonetti - Theme and 12 Variations for Violin and Bass, Urtext Edition
For the first time in history, Domenico Dragonetti’s Theme with 12 Variations for violin and bass is now available in a modern edition made from the original manuscript. This work’s original manuscript resides in the Biblioteca Civica Angelo Mai in Bergamo, Italy (Gallicciolli 17251), and its location in Bergamo helps with identifying its origins. The title page of this manuscript reads: “Tema con XII Variazioni Per Violin e Basso. Dedicate A Sua Eccelenza Francesco Vendramin Dal Celebre Sigr Domenico Dragonetti.” The Vendramin family had a long history as a wealthy family of merchants in Venice and included Francesco Vendramin, who served as Patriarch of Venice. The family had a long history of supporting the arts in Venice and can be seen depicted in Titian’s famous painting “The Vendramin Family Venerating a Relic of the True Cross”. The Teatro Goldoni in Venice (formerly the Teatro San Luca and the Teatro Vendramin di San Salvatore) was owned by the Vendramin family. It’s very likely that Dragonetti met the Vendramin family during his early career in Venice, which dates this work from before he moved to London in 1794.
While the basso part to this work is a simple, functional bass line for the violin to play variations over, I feel confident that this was meant to be performed on the double bass as opposed to another bass or continuo instrument. Apart from the fact that Dragonetti would have written for his own instrument, there are no figures in the part for a keyboard instrument to realize. There are also two double stops in the opening Adagio that lay well on the double bass. For musicians who are interested in Dragonetti’s work as a composer, or musicians who are looking for a piece written for violin and double bass from the late 18th century, this would be a great opportunity to explore a work which has been virtually unknown until today.
Available with a score and parts for violin and bass in a PDF download (29 pages).
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