Sheet music
Composer(s):
Publisher(s):
Publishernumber:
MAG-223
Instrument(s):
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edited by Emanuela Degli Esposti
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Guillaume-Pierre-Antoine Gatayes (illegitimate son of prince de Conti and marquise de Silly), was born in Paris on December, 20th, 1774. His brother, marquis of Montreal (also an illegitimate son), was destined to inherit the family wealth, therefore the young Guillaume had no other choice but enter seminary, with the name of Abbe Venicourt. Irresistibly fascinated by music, he secretly kept a guitar and practiced on his own, with the aid of a method. He was obliged to play the guitar always pianissimo and in 1788, being frustrated, he escaped from the seminary.With the Revolution his mother, marquise de Silly, was obliged to leave France. At the age of sixteen he remained alone and begun to earn his living as a composer. In the same period a wounded knee forced him to bed; he thus had the opportunity to study and improve his guitar technique. In 1790 he published his method for the guitar, which soon became the most popular in France. In the meanwhile he changed his name from Vénicourt to Gatayes.His destiny led him to a close friendship with Marat, who lived in the apartment next to his. François-Joseph Fetis, in his Biographie Universelle des Musiciens, tells that one day Gatayes heard screaming and run to the home of his friend, who was already dead: next to his body was Charlotte Corday. The girl looked so handsome, noble and pure, that Gatayes decided to let her go.Gatayes' name became soon very popular in Paris, thanks to his romances Mon délire and Le pauvre aveugle. Besides being a guitar virtuoso, he also took the harp, with such a passion that in 1795 he published his Methode de harpe, plus several duets for guitar and harp, the Duo op. 22 for harp and French horn, Sonatas for harp or piano with accompaniment of violin ad libitum, Pot-pourris and Romances. Gatayes had two sons: Joseph-Leon, harpist, pupil of Cousineau and Labarre, and Felix, pianist, composer and conductor.The present two duets for harp and fortepiano or two harps are based on themes by the celebrated harpist and composer Johann Baptist Krumpholtz (1745-1790). The original title is as follows: Deux Sonates du celebre Krumpholtz. Actually, the themes are taken from three different compositions: Sonata in F major op. 15 n. 1 (1st movement of the 1st duet), Sonata in B flat op. 13 n. 1 (2nd and 3rd movement) and Sonata in C major op. 13 n. 3 (2nd duet). These compositions are a true homage that Gatayes wanted to pay to the master. The original print bears this touching dedication: To Krumpholtz's Gods.Celebrated favourite of the God of Harmony, for you, whose loss still excite our regrets, I want, inspired by melancholy, to append a garland to your sober cypress, but its flowers are lifeless, and here I cry their feeble colours; Thus, feeling that I am failing my scope, I suddenly change the project; I will spread a bouquet composed by your own hand, and I will ornate your grave with your own flowers.The present edition is based upon the print published in Paris chez l'Auteur and in Bordeaux chez Filliatre. The title page reads as follows: Deux / SONATES / du célébre Krumpholtz / ARRANGÉES / EN DUOS / Pour Harpe et Piano / PAR GATAYES / Oeuvre VII. / à / Ces Duos, peuvent S'executer sur deux Harpes ou deux Pianos. The musical text has been kept as close as possible to the original one; the use of accidentals has been modernized; abbreviations and refrains have been written out in full.
Composer(s):
Publisher(s):
Publishernumber:
MAG-223
Instrument(s):
ISBN:
9790215318496
Number:
200370
Theme(s):
Overige informatie:
edited by Emanuela Degli Esposti
