Johann Mattheson: Grosse Generalbaß-Schule, Ober-Classe, Prob-Stück 4

Notes on the realisation

The realisation above was constructed according to Mattheson’s instructions in the Erläuterung that follows the Prob-Stück in question. As far as possible, the aim was to make the right-hand part meaningful, i. e. to have it use as many elements taken from the bass itself as possible. In this way, Mattheson’s precept “daß alles aneinander hänget” [that everything is connected] holds true for the whole musical edifice, or almost.

The Phrygian cadences have been provided with trills, as Mattheson and Saint-Lambert indicate. In every case these trills have been written in the bass as well as in the alto, but it is left to the performer whether actually to play them as double trills or, as the case may be, as single trills – varietas must take precedence above all.