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sheeles17301

John Sheeles
London, 1688-1761

Suits of Lessons
for the HARPSICHORD or SPINNETT

Compos'd by
Mr. John Sheeles

Second Work
London 1730

To Miss Mary, and Miss Anna Petronella, Elletson

FERNANDO DE LUCA
World premiere recording

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First Set in C major

Overture: (Largo) - Vivace
Largo
Jigg. Allegro

Second Set in f minor

Allmand
Courant
Alla Breve
Siciliane

Third Set in A major

Allegro
Air
Adagio
Vivace

Fourth Set in F major

Overture: (Largo) - Vivace
Minuet
Chacone. To an old Ground (*)

(*) Both the middle section (variations in minor) and the last variation with coda (in major) have been composed ad-libitum by F. De Luca

Fifth Set in c minor

Prelude
Allegro
Corant
Jigg

Sixth Set in D major

Allmand
Corant. Allegro
Saraband
Minuet
Jigg

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Fernando De Luca, Smarden (Kent, UK)
Photo by Zadok, August 2011


Here is a new World Premiere Recording by Fernando De Luca: the second Book (London 1730) of harpsichord lessons of John Sheeles, English composer, organist and harpsichordist, about whom unfortunately little or nothing is known. The only biographical information that we have identified already appeared online two years ago, when we published the first book (1725) in its entirety. You can access it through the link at the bottom of the page.

While the suites in the first collection still showed a certain typically English stamp (Purcell, Croft, with some Handelian touches), here in the second book from five years later, the presence of George Frideric Handel hovers practically everywhere: the second Lesson in F minor is the perfect example! Sheeles dedicated this new collection to his pupils, the Misses Mary and Anna Petronella Elletson, who probably had demonstrated to their teacher a clear preference for the suites of the dear Saxon – in perfect sympathy with the taste of the first decades of the 18th century.

Zadok, 6 May 2012 (Translation: Belinda McKay)

Notes

  1. Sources: London, Wm. Smith, n.d. (ca.1730); download sheet music here
  2. Some information on John Sheeles can be found in the page from the first Book

Anno 2012-05 / Issue 2012-05

Recorded in Rome, 2011 May 4-5 & 16-19
German harpsichord after Christian Vater (1738)
Pitch A=415Hz

Ecco una nuova World Premiere Recording di Fernando De Luca: il secondo libro (Londra 1730) di Lessons clavicembalistiche di John Sheeles, compositore organista e cembalista inglese di cui purtroppo si sa poco o nulla. Le uniche informazioni biografiche che abbiamo individuato erano già online nella pagina di due anni fa, allorquando pubblicammo integralmente il primo libro (1725) - che potrete quindi accedere dal link posto a fondo pagina.

Se le suites della prima raccolta mostravano ancora una certa impronta tipicamente inglese (Purcell, Croft.. con qualche spunto haendeliano), qui nel secondo libro di cinque anni dopo, la presenza di George Frideric Handel aleggia praticamente ovunque: la seconda Lesson in fa minore ne è la perfetta esemplificazione! Questa nuova raccolta, Sheeles la dedicò alle sue allieve Miss Mary e Anna Petronella Elletson, le quali probabilmente avranno manifestato al loro maestro una chiara predilezione per le suites del caro sassone - in perfetta sintonia con il gusto di quei decenni di inizio XVIII secolo.

Zadok, 6 maggio 2012

Note

  1. Sources: London, Wm. Smith, n.d. (ca.1730); download sheet music here
  2. Qualche informazione su J. Sheeles è reperibile nella nostra precedente pagina del First Book
sheeles17302
handelvauxhall1falernoducandevater1738

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