Giuseppe Dall'Abaco was one of a small group of Italian cellists active as composers and performers in London at the midpoint of the eighteenth century. The majority of his cello sonatas, together with those of several cellist colleagues, appears in Manuscript 31528 (dated after 1760) at the British Library. Only four other Dall'Abaco cello sonatas are known to exist, and there is no record that any of his works were published during his lifetime. However, the first group of twelve sonatas in Manuscript 31528 appears to have been intended for publication since it is headed by an embryonic title page and the sonatas are arranged with regard to balance of key plan, increasing length, and progressively greater technical difficulty. Although it has been assumed that the sonatas were composed in the 1760s, this study will demonstrate that Dall'Abaco's nobility, acquired in 1766, was inscribed later on the title page of these sonatas; thus their actual date of composition presumably preceded this date. The sonatas, which exhibit style characteristics typical of the time of transition from the late baroque to the early classic era (primarily the decade of the 1740s), are shown to be a coherent collection because of common melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic gestures. Since four movements from the Dall'Abaco sonatas appear as the published works of "Signor Martino," dated 1745 by the British Library, Martino's sonatas are also evaluated. It will be shown that these four similar movements, two of which appear as part of the well-known Sonata in G major attributed to Giovanni Battista Sammartini, most probably have their origin in Dall'Abaco's manuscript. Although Martino's true identity has long been in dispute, this study will demonstrate that he was in fact the French cellist Martin Berteau. The eleven Dall'Abaco sonatas existing only in manuscript are transcribed in Part II. In Part III of this document, three of these manuscript sonatas have been realized and edited for modern performance.

Thesis (D.M.A.)--Boston University

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in printed format.

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Ribbons of Visible Air is a work of about twenty minutes duration for soprano saxophone, violin, cello, piano, one percussion, and live digital sound processing. Though the work unfolds as one continuous movement, it is conceived as being in several sections, each lasting from approximately one to four minutes. The primary ideas behind the form of Ribbons of Visible Air originate in the concerto principle (with the saxophone in the role of soloist) and variation technique; these ideas influence not only the large-scale form, but also the organization of material in respect to the different instruments and the relationship of the ensemble as a whole to the electronic processing. This composition explores a number of harmonic techniques related to the harmonic series, as well as the rhythmic possibilities inherent in multiple levels of pulsation. Of particular relevance to this work is the incorporation of extended techniques of the soprano saxophone, especially the alteration of pitch and timbre through unorthodox fingering patterns.

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Investigation of the historically informed performance movement with regard to its influence on violoncello playing since 1981 is approached in this critical commentary through the analysis of three different interpretations of Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C major. These interpretations are recordings by prominent cellists who have influenced or been influenced by the rise in popularity of the historically informed performance movement, namely Anner Bylsma, Pieter Wispelwey and Yo-Yo Ma. The critical commentary includes a brief summary of the musical careers of each individual and reports on the publicity surrounding them in an attempt to discover each performer’s views on the importance of historical performance practice and the extent to which these views are reflected in their performances. In order to establish what constitutes a historically informed interpretation of Haydn’s Cello Concerto, this document provides a brief background to the historical performance movement and also to the work itself. In the critical commentary, this work is analysed in relation to six specific aspects of historically informed interpretation: instrumentation, pitch, vibrato, tempo, ornamentation and cadential improvisation. By examining and comparing these aspects in the aforementioned twentieth-century recordings, this critical commentary concludes in support of Taruskin’s (1984) position on the now fashionable debate of historical performance practice. Namely, that the historical performance movement has been influenced as much by modern taste and aesthetics as by the attempt to create historically ‘accurate’ music.

Investigation of the historically informed performance movement with regard to its influence on violoncello playing since 1981 is approached in this critical commentary through the analysis of three different interpretations of Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C major. These interpretations are recordings by prominent cellists who have influenced or been influenced by the rise in popularity of the historically informed performance movement, namely Anner Bylsma, Pieter Wispelwey and Yo-Yo Ma. The critical commentary includes a brief summary of the musical careers of each individual and reports on the publicity surrounding them in an attempt to discover each performer’s views on the importance of historical performance practice and the extent to which these views are reflected in their performances. In order to establish what constitutes a historically informed interpretation of Haydn’s Cello Concerto, this document provides a brief background to the historical performance movement and also to the work itself. In the critical commentary, this work is analysed in relation to six specific aspects of historically informed interpretation: instrumentation, pitch, vibrato, tempo, ornamentation and cadential improvisation. By examining and comparing these aspects in the aforementioned twentieth-century recordings, this critical commentary concludes in support of Taruskin’s (1984) position on the now fashionable debate of historical performance practice. Namely, that the historical performance movement has been influenced as much by modern taste and aesthetics as by the attempt to create historically ‘accurate’ music.

Investigation of the historically informed performance movement with regard to its influence on violoncello playing since 1981 is approached in this critical commentary through the analysis of three different interpretations of Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C major. These interpretations are recordings by prominent cellists who have influenced or been influenced by the rise in popularity of the historically informed performance movement, namely Anner Bylsma, Pieter Wispelwey and Yo-Yo Ma. The critical commentary includes a brief summary of the musical careers of each individual and reports on the publicity surrounding them in an attempt to discover each performer’s views on the importance of historical performance practice and the extent to which these views are reflected in their performances. In order to establish what constitutes a historically informed interpretation of Haydn’s Cello Concerto, this document provides a brief background to the historical performance movement and also to the work itself. In the critical commentary, this work is analysed in relation to six specific aspects of historically informed interpretation: instrumentation, pitch, vibrato, tempo, ornamentation and cadential improvisation. By examining and comparing these aspects in the aforementioned twentieth-century recordings, this critical commentary concludes in support of Taruskin’s (1984) position on the now fashionable debate of historical performance practice. Namely, that the historical performance movement has been influenced as much by modern taste and aesthetics as by the attempt to create historically ‘accurate’ music.