Piano,Viola - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1487758

Composed by Various. Arranged by Colin Kirkpatrick. Baroque,Renaissance. Score and part. 17 pages. Colin Kirkpatrick Publications #1064696. Published by Colin Kirkpatrick Publications (A0.1487758).

These are eleven of the most well-known dances of the Renaissance set in five movements and selected from the famous collection entitled Terpsichore, published in 1612 by Michael Praetorius. They are sure to be a welcome addition to the elementary viola repertoire and the music is in the alto clef throughout. The highest note is the F above the alto staff and this appears in only one of the movements..

By the time Michael Praetorius published his dance collection, he was one of the most famous musicians in Germany. The name is pronounced “terp-SI-cory” and rhymes with the word “hickory”. The original publication consisted of 312 dances in four, five and six parts. Although the dances were probably conceived for string ensemble, Praetorius was well aware that in practice they would be played by any instruments that happened to be available.

These arrangements for viola (or violas) and keyboard are based on the original 1612 publication. The music sounds more authentic using a harpsichord rather than a piano, or the harpsichord sound of a digital keyboard. The keyboard part may be interpreted quite freely with ornamentation added as appropriate. During the Renaissance, it was common practice to combine separate dances to create something of more substantial duration. A similar practice is used in these arrangements which are as follows: 1. Three Gavottes; 2. Two Ballets; 3. Two Bourées; 4. Two Courantes and 5. Two Voltas.