Description
These sonatas represent groundbreaking contributions to the violin repertoire and are now integral to the standard repertoire of all violinists. It is surprising that an Urtext edition of such important works has not been available until now. The score is derived from a first edition overseen by Corelli himself. However, performance practices during Corelli's era demanded more from violinists than merely interpreting the printed notes; it was common to incorporate ornamentation that approached improvisation, allowing for embellishments and variations as desired. Consequently, the original score is presented alongside the earliest documented ornamentation from a reprint published by Roger in Amsterdam in 1708. This ornamentation serves not as a strict guideline but as inspiration for players to develop their own creative and stylistically assured interpretations. Since Roger did not provide ornaments for the sonatas in the second volume, variations utilized by Corelli's pupil Geminiani are included, with the ninth Sonata serving as an example. Performance guidance from Cologne baroque expert Reinhard Goebel encompasses not only ornamentation but also articulation, bowings, and other aspects, necessitating specific markings in the separate violin part. The realization of the continuo part reflects the stylistic trends of the period, and the performance advice aims to encourage a free interpretation by the continuo player, with a figured bass part available for those who prefer to read the accompaniment using figures.
