Bettina Hoffmann
Catalogue of Solo and Chamber Music for Viola da Gamba
A Kempis, Nicolaus
Symphoniae unius, duorum, trium, IV. V. et VI. instrumentorum [...] opus quartum
The collection contains the following pieces with viola da gamba:
Symphonia Quarta, Violino & Viola di Gambi ô Tromboni
Symphonia Quinta, Violino & Viola di Gambi
Symphonia à 6, Duo Violini: Duo Tromboni: & Viola di Gambi, cum Basso Viola
Symphonia XXIV. Pour la Viola di Gambi. Quidecim modis variata. (15 variations)
Symphonia XXV. Symphonia Pour la Viola di Gambi. (10 variations)
Pavana Dolorosa pour la Viola di Gambi, avec son Basso Continuo particulier pour l’espinette (variations on Pavana Dolorosa by Peter Philips)
Antwerpen, Magdalène Phalèse
F-Pn (incomplete, Pars secunda only), GB-Lbl (incomplete, Pars quarta only)
The Pars Secunda book contains the parts for viola da gamba of the 3 symphonias; the Pars Quarta book contains the parts for viola da gamba of the 3 variations.
Symphonia XIV begins with a ‘sogetto’, that is, a bass line that serves as the ground for the 15 variations that follow. Symphonia XV, on the other hand, lacks such a bass line; the first phrase is harmonically unsuitable to serve as the basis for the variations.
The variations on Pavana dolorosa match the piece of the same name by Peter Philips, which circulated in numerous copies for keyboard and lute; while a version for viol consort is transposed a fourth higher.
K 380, KK 380, ID 990033217
