Pergolesi Duo Sonata No. 1 in G Major for Violin and Double Bass & Piano

The Duo Sonata No. 1 in G Major for Violin and Double Bass (or Cello) is an arrangement of the first Trio Sonata for Two Violins, Cello, and Continuo composed by Baroque composer Giambattista Pergolesi (1710-1736). The first movement of the Trio Sonata was famously re-worked in a Neoclassic style by Igor Stravinsky and his Pulcinella ballet, which was premiered on May 15, 1920.

In this arrangement, the original First Violin part remains largely intact while the Double Bass assumes much of the original music of the Second Violin, with parts of the Cello Line included. With the majority of the original Cello music already in the Duo’s piano accompaniment, all of the original string parts are intact yet re­ imagined in a format that is both technically accessible and musically convincing.

This edition takes a minimalist approach with regard to articulations and fingerings, allowing the performers to choose options they deem most suitable to them. The bowings/articulations in the string parts reflect the artistic decisions the authors made while rehearsing this work. Fingerings for some of the more difficult bass passages are instances where a technical solution might not be so obvious.

This Duo Sonata is intended for advanced musicians (particularly double bassists) who are seeking accessible and musically satisfying chamber music.