Description
cantata for soprano and chamber orchestra, 1779
for soprano solo and chamber orchestra
(2 Flöten/ 2 flutes, 2 Hörner/ 2 horns, Streicher/strings)
The cantata presented here can be found under the number VI 17128 in the library of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, Vienna.
Pages 1-6 are divided into two accolades of 5 lines each. The instrumental indications before the first accolade read: Violini, Viola – before the soprano part is: Rec’vo, before the basso part is: Maestoso.
In the second movement, the winds (2 flutes and 2 horns) join in. Pages 7-21 each consist of an accolade on 8 staves. Before the first accolade is notated in this order: Corni in F: (the two horns are notated in one system), Flauti trav:, Violini con Sordini, Viola; between the following lines for the soprano and basso parts is the movement marking Cantabile. The second cantabile ends with a recitative which, like the first, is performed without wind instruments; pages 22-24 are therefore again divided into two accolades of 5 lines each.
This order of instruments is notated before the last movement, which comprises pages 25-36: Corni, Flauti Trav:, Violini, Viola; between the following lines for the soprano and basso parts is the movement marking Andante. The two horns are notated in C in this movement without this being noted accordingly. In the present edition, the order of the instruments has been adapted to modern conventions: Flute 1, Flute 2, Horn 1/2 in F (in the last movement Horn 1/2 in C), Soprano, Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Basso.
The text of the cantata is by Pietro Metastasio.
