Messe Solennelle [antikvár]

DURATION FOR CONCERT PERFORMANCE APPROX 80 MINS. the 'Petite Messe solennelle', though so called with a touch of Rossinian pleasantry, is a mass of full dimensions, lasting nearly two hours in performance. This work, comprising soli and choruses, was written with the accompaniment of a harmonium and two pianos Rossini afterwards scored it with slight alterations for full orchestra, and in this shape it was performed for the first time in public at the Théâtre-Italien, on the evening of Sunday, 28 February 1869 on the seventy-eighth anniversary of the composer's birth as nearly as that could be, seeing that he was born in a leap year on 29 February. Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ^th Edn., edited by Eric Blom, and published by Messrs. Mactnillan & Co. Ltd. In this vocal score the piano part has been brought as nearly as reasonable to Rossini's full score, as far as dynamics and phrasing are concerned. The original performance referred to above was indeed it seems given with accompaniment for harmonium and two pianos but the second piano was a ripieno part, only reinforcing the first piano at suitable places. The first part appears, with the original dynamics and phrasing, in the Milan edition, which is still available for hire. The second piano part is also obtainable on hire. This edition is intended as a practical one for choirs who propose to give performances with orchestra. Performances with the original keyboard accompaniment, or with various modifications of it, are of course also possible. The Orchestral Score and Parts are on hire