Pot-pourri for Cello and Guitar, Op. 21

The production for Cello and Guitar is, in general, quite scarce, and while one could be repelled from this instrumentation because of the potential sound balance issues, the actual result is, in truth, remarkable and surprising at the same time.

During the 1810s, Dotzauer wrote three opuses involving the guitar, making us assume there could have been a player to serve as source for his inspiration. This Pot-pourri, Op. 21, composed around 1811 and marked for publication by Breitkopf & Härtel only in 1817, is a 9-minutes-long piece in five parts in the key of E minor.

A dramatic, long introduction leads the way to a Gavotte-like Andante, whose melody is constantly varied and developed to put the singing qualities of the soloist in the spotlight. A dreaming Larghetto, in G major, prepares us for the coming back of the Andante, and for the closing, rushing Presto.

This edition comes in a full score and cello part that closely follow Dotzauer’s instructions, plus several bonuses:

• A guitar part with annotations by Emanuele Buono, 1st-prize winner of the “Michele Pittaluga” competition in 2013
• Two additional cello parts, one with historical performance suggestions by Australian cellist Josephine Vains, and one with modern performance suggestions by Michele Galvagno.