BOCCHERINI, Luigi 1743-1805

Collection des Quintetti … pour deux Violons, Alto et deux Violoncelles. La partie de premier Violoncelle peut être remplacée par l’Alto Violoncelle Tome Ier. [-Tome II]. [Complete set of parts to 93 quintets].

Paris: Janet et Cotelle [PNs 1037, 1038], [1820-22].

2 “Tomes” in 6 volumes each for a total of 12 volumes. Folio. Early half ivory vellum with teal blue boards.

Small Parisian binder's ticket (Mandar Fils) laid down to upper outer corner of front pastedown of each volume.

93 quintets in total.

Tome I (51 quintets in Books 1-9)
Violino primo: 1f. (recto blank, verso fine full-page portrait engraving of Boccherini by Bourgeois de la Richardiere after Lefevre), 1f. (recto title within fine decorative border by Aubert Junior, verso blank), 1f. (recto thematic index, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-253, [i] (blank) pp.
Second violon: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-235, [i] (blank) pp.
Viola: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-197, [i] (blank) pp.
Alto violoncelle: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-207, [i] (blank) pp.
Premier violoncelle: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-207, [i] (blank) pp.
Second violoncelle: 1f. (recto title, versoblank), [i] (blank), 2-189, [i] (blank) pp.

Tome II (42 quintets in books 10-16)
Violino primo: [1] (recto title within fine decorative border by Aubert Junior, verso blank), 1f. (recto thematic index, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-212 pp.
Second violon: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-172 pp.
Alto (viola): 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-163, [i] (blank) pp.
Alto violoncelle: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-163, [i] (blank) pp.
Premier violoncelle: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-163, [i] (blank) pp.
Second violoncelle: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), [i] (blank), 2-153, [i] (blank) pp.

Engraved throughout.

Bindings slightly worn and scuffed. Minor foxing and staining; tear to pp. 81/82 of first violin part in Tome I with partial loss of several measures. Lacking list of subscribers. A very good copy overall.

Gerard, p. 289. RISM B3187

“[Boccherini] wrote his chamber music for himself and other virtuosos to play, always showing a sure grasp of string technique. The high, florid cello parts … and the elaborate violin parts inevitably represent a heterogeneous element texturally, no less so because Boccherini also assigned virtuoso passage-work to the viola and the second violin, and in quintets to the second cello. ... In a sensuous, wholly Latin way, he relished the sound of an ensemble of instruments for its own sake.” TNG Vol. 2, p. 828.

Complete copies, particularly with the fine portrait, are rare to the market.

Item #40346

Price: $2,200.00  other currencies