12 Waltzes

Domenico Dragonetti

Product code:

RMD1177

£8.50

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Description

These waltzes were particular favourites of Dragonetti and were discovered amongst his manuscripts after his death in 1846. Each has its own charm and character, offering study and recital repertoire for the good intermediate bassist with effective musical and technical challenges throughout.

This edition has returned to the original manuscript to create a playable edition with a limited number of editorial additions. Overall, this edition is very close to the composer’s original intentions, with the occasional slur or articulation added if they were included in a similar phrase.

There are many opportunities for bassists to add dynamics and new articulations to create unique interpretations with the intention of bringing these charming and stylish early 19th- century waltzes to new audiences today.

“These extraordinary specimens of “the Waltz style” as applied to the capabilities of such an instrument as the Double Bass were some of the last “playful Exercises” which Dragonetti wrote to evince his wonderful command over that Gigantic instrument. He was fond of playing them to me in his own room (although no terms ever induced him to perform them in public), as he knew that I was acquainted with the complete and usual limits of the contrabasso in the hands of other performers, and that I therefore was perfectly aware of what was going forward when he was applying his own system of bowing, peculiarity of expression, striking character et cetera, to them; and certainly the mode in which he performed these admirable and masterly compositions of their class, was such as I never expect to hear again accomplished, as long as I may live; and which will probably never again be heard by anyone, on the Double Bass, as long as the world lasts.” [Vincent Novello]

In 1849, three years after the death of Domenico Dragonetti (1763-1846) and before he retired to Italy, Vincent Novello (1781-1861) donated Dragonetti’s manuscripts to the British Library. Novello, an executor to Dragonetti’s will, had tried to collate and organize the vast collection of manuscripts. The words above, oft-quoted, were written on the first page of the Twelve Waltzes for unaccompanied double bass. They give a clear indication of their close friendship and also of Novello’s great admiration for the famous double bassist. Novello was present when Dragonetti died, inherited most of his archive, and, thanks to his foresight, the eighteen volumes of manuscripts have survived to the present day.

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Description

These waltzes were particular favourites of Dragonetti and were discovered amongst his manuscripts after his death in 1846. Each has its own charm and character, offering study and recital repertoire for the good intermediate bassist with effective musical and technical challenges throughout.

This edition has returned to the original manuscript to create a playable edition with a limited number of editorial additions. Overall, this edition is very close to the composer’s original intentions, with the occasional slur or articulation added if they were included in a similar phrase.

There are many opportunities for bassists to add dynamics and new articulations to create unique interpretations with the intention of bringing these charming and stylish early 19th- century waltzes to new audiences today.

“These extraordinary specimens of “the Waltz style” as applied to the capabilities of such an instrument as the Double Bass were some of the last “playful Exercises” which Dragonetti wrote to evince his wonderful command over that Gigantic instrument. He was fond of playing them to me in his own room (although no terms ever induced him to perform them in public), as he knew that I was acquainted with the complete and usual limits of the contrabasso in the hands of other performers, and that I therefore was perfectly aware of what was going forward when he was applying his own system of bowing, peculiarity of expression, striking character et cetera, to them; and certainly the mode in which he performed these admirable and masterly compositions of their class, was such as I never expect to hear again accomplished, as long as I may live; and which will probably never again be heard by anyone, on the Double Bass, as long as the world lasts.” [Vincent Novello]

In 1849, three years after the death of Domenico Dragonetti (1763-1846) and before he retired to Italy, Vincent Novello (1781-1861) donated Dragonetti’s manuscripts to the British Library. Novello, an executor to Dragonetti’s will, had tried to collate and organize the vast collection of manuscripts. The words above, oft-quoted, were written on the first page of the Twelve Waltzes for unaccompanied double bass. They give a clear indication of their close friendship and also of Novello’s great admiration for the famous double bassist. Novello was present when Dragonetti died, inherited most of his archive, and, thanks to his foresight, the eighteen volumes of manuscripts have survived to the present day.

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Contents

About the Composer

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About the Arranger

About the Editor

David Heyes (b.1960) studied double bass with Laurence Gray and Bronwen Naish, later at the Royal College of Music in London, and completed his post-graduate studies in Prague with František Pošta (Principal Bass, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra). He has given recitals and masterclasses in 20 countries over the past few years and has been a juror at a number of international competitions, three times as chairman. David’s collaborative work gained him a prestigious award from the David Walter Charitable Trust of New York for his pioneering activities as a soloist, teacher, publisher, and commissioner of new music for double bass and he works with composers throughout the world to expand the double bass repertoire by commissioning new music and by rediscovering forgotten ones. Since 1983 more than 700 works have been written for him, music from one to twenty basses and from beginner to virtuoso, and he has premiered ten contemporary concertos with orchestra. David began to compose in 2013 and has had music performed and recorded in 29 countries across five continents. He is a D’Addario Performing Artist and has recently commissioned a solo double bass from British master-luthier Martin Penning.

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