Johann Mattheson on Violoncello da Spalla

And on continuo playing

From Johann Mattheson, “The newly opened orchestra”, Hamburg 1713

Johann Mattheson (1681-1764) from Hamburg, was a singer, composer, diplomat, lexicographer and music theorist. He studied violin, harpsichord, singing and composition and, at nine, was already an organist in a church in Hamburg and also a singer in the Opera chorus. He debuted at 15 as a soloist in a soprano feminine role. A close friend of Georg Haendel, he sang in the first representation of Almira. When he writes about music, he surely knows his subject first-hand.

There are two excellent points in the few lines that I quoted in the pic above:

1. The playing position is described in such detail that it leaves little chance for confusion

2. The bass line is enriched by “rapid things, variations and ornaments”. It’s not just the bass line played plain as it is. The continuo is realised with great virtuosity.

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Further readings

The Bononcini family

Where to dig for new exciting repertoire

What to play on your cello da spalla: Antonio Caldara

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Updates from our workshop

This week we had a blast going to Cremona to buy maples! We found many gorgeous future backs of our Violoncello da Spalla. It was exciting! As we use a not conventional length, it’s not easy to find them!

Here, in Cremona and at Liuteria shop where we also met the great Paris Andrew, one of the fantastic components of the hardworking team behind the group Women in Lutherie!

Then Daniela was sick for the rest of the week. So this newsletter was very short but with much food for thought.

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Featured video of the week

A video from our lockdown time, almost one year ago!