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Lost Vivaldi Work Uncovered at National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh |
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Written by Autograph Collector's Daily
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Friday, 08 October 2010 |
stv - A lost composition by 18th century classical composer Vivaldi has been uncovered at the National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh.
The manuscript for flute concerto Il Gran Mogol was discovered among a nobleman's papers
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) is recognised as one of the great Baroque composers. The Venetian is best known for his series of violin concertos, The Four Seasons.
The manuscript is believed to have been the property of the flute-playing nobleman Lord Robert Kerr, the son of the third Marquess of Lothian. He is thought to have acquired it while on a Grand Tour of Europe in the early 1700s.
The document was preserved among the family papers of the Marquesses of Lothian which were acquired by the National Archives of Scotland in 1991.
Southampton University researcher Andrew Woolley uncovered the piece, which belongs to a quartet of concertos - the remaining three of which have yet to surface.
Mr Woolley said: "This piece was previously known only from a mention in the sale catalogue of an 18th-century Dutch bookseller.
"Discovering that it is actually in existence is unexpected and hugely exciting."
Mr Woolley is the first to identify the significance of the work, which is missing a part for the second violin. He reconstructed the missing section by referring to the manuscript of another flute concerto by Vivaldi which appears to be a reworking of Il Gran Mogol.
Scotland's Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop said: "This remarkable discovery of an unpublished concerto by one of the world's best-known composers shows the outstanding quality of the collections in the National Archives of Scotland.
"With no evidence that the piece has ever been played, I welcome the news that its premiere will be in Scotland."
Il Gran Mogol will get its modern day premiere at Perth Concert Hall on January 26.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 08 October 2010 )
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