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Johann Sebastian Bach » Preludium (F. David's MS copy) » David, Ferdinand - (MS)

David's autograph MS copy of the prelude from the E major Partita, from the Uppingham Collection. David dated it at the end 10/9 61 (presumably 10 September 1861). The title page contains the pencil annotation, apparently in David's hand, 'Mit der Mendelssohnsche Begleit[ung]' (with Mendelssohn's accompaniment). This refers to the piano part Mendelssohn improvised when he and David first performed the Prelude in public, which Mendelssohn later wrote down and gave to David. The autograph remained in David's possession until his death when it passed to his son Paul, who later sold it. The first page of music, however, is headed 'Violino Principale', which suggests that this part was intended to be played with an orchestral accompaniment. Such an arrangement by David seems indeed to have existed. In a review of a concert in Sondershausen, which appeared in the Signale für die musikalische Welt [29/1(1871),422], another such arrangement by a musician called Stör  is referred to in which, however, there were six violins playing the top part; the reviewer commented: 'the use of David's excellent performance annotations for this piece is essentially to thank that, as a result of uniform bowing and nuances, the performance was very successful' (es ist der Benutzung der vortrefflichen David'schen Vortragsbezeichnungen zu diesem Tonstück wesentlich mit zu danken, dass die Aufführung duch gleickmässige Strichart und Nuancierung zu einer sehr gelungenen wurde).

CB

Composer Johann Sebastian Bach
Work Preludium (F. David's MS copy)
Title Preludium in E
Publisher (MS)
City
Date 1861 [Source: Manuscript]
Publication Number
Instrumentation Solo Violin – 1 Violin
Partly Recomposed No

Parts

Part Plate No. Medium Annotations Musical Text(s)
Violin (MS) Manuscript Manuscript