Uploaded February 2009 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
ALESSANDRO MARCELLO (1669-1747)
"La Cetra": Concerto No. 6 for two oboes, two flutes, violin, strings, and basso continuo in G major
1. Allegro
2. Larghetto
3. Vivace
Performed by Collegium Musicum 90
Directed by Simon Standage
*Alessandro Marcello was an Italian nobleman and dilettante who excelled in various areas, including poetry, philosophy, mathematics and, perhaps most notably, music.
A slightly older contemporary of Antonio Vivaldi, Marcello held concerts at his hometown of Venice. He composed and published several sets of concertos, including six concertos under the title of La Cetra (The Lyre), as well as cantatas, arias, canzonets, and violin sonatas. Marcello often composed under the pseudonym Eterio Stinfalico, his name as a member of the celebrated Arcadian Academy (Pontificia Accademia degli Arcadi ). He died in Padua in 1747. Alessandro's brother was Benedetto Marcello, also a composer.
A particularily interesting aspect of the "La Cetra" concertos is that Marcello states exactly how the concertos should be scored. He asks for a total of fifteen instruments divided into six groups: a first oboe or flute (traversiere) with a first solo violin; a second oboe or flute with a second solo violin; two ripieno first violins; two ripieno second violins; a first cello plus two violas (no seperate viola part is given, necissitating much octave transposition); and a harpsichord (cembalo), second cello, violone, and bassoon. The ripieno violins, however, simply double sections of the top solo lines, and Marcello allows for smaller-scale perforamces with just six solo strings or even a minimum of four violins and one cello (plus harpsichord).
ALESSANDRO MARCELLO (1669-1747)
"La Cetra": Concerto No. 6 for two oboes, two flutes, violin, strings, and basso continuo in G major
1. Allegro
2. Larghetto
3. Vivace
Performed by Collegium Musicum 90
Directed by Simon Standage
*Alessandro Marcello was an Italian nobleman and dilettante who excelled in various areas, including poetry, philosophy, mathematics and, perhaps most notably, music.
A slightly older contemporary of Antonio Vivaldi, Marcello held concerts at his hometown of Venice. He composed and published several sets of concertos, including six concertos under the title of La Cetra (The Lyre), as well as cantatas, arias, canzonets, and violin sonatas. Marcello often composed under the pseudonym Eterio Stinfalico, his name as a member of the celebrated Arcadian Academy (Pontificia Accademia degli Arcadi ). He died in Padua in 1747. Alessandro's brother was Benedetto Marcello, also a composer.
A particularily interesting aspect of the "La Cetra" concertos is that Marcello states exactly how the concertos should be scored. He asks for a total of fifteen instruments divided into six groups: a first oboe or flute (traversiere) with a first solo violin; a second oboe or flute with a second solo violin; two ripieno first violins; two ripieno second violins; a first cello plus two violas (no seperate viola part is given, necissitating much octave transposition); and a harpsichord (cembalo), second cello, violone, and bassoon. The ripieno violins, however, simply double sections of the top solo lines, and Marcello allows for smaller-scale perforamces with just six solo strings or even a minimum of four violins and one cello (plus harpsichord).
