La Stravaganza, Op. 4

During his lifetime, the Italian Baroque composer, violin virtuoso and music publisher, Carlo Tessarini, had a great reputation throughout Western Europe. He was born in Rimini, ca. 1690 and died in Amsterdam, after December 15, 1766. His compositions were published by Le Cene in Amsterdam, Boivin in Paris, and in his own publishing house which he founded with his relative, Giovanni Francesco, probably his own brother. Tessarini’s musical output is purely instrumental. He wrote sonatas, concertos, trios and duets for various string instruments, occasionally interchangeable for flute and oboe. His extensive opus 4 “La Stravaganza” was written for violin solo and string orchestra. Overture (in three movements), Concerto for Violin (or Oboe, three movements) Partita ( five movements), Concerto for Two Violins (three movements) Sinfonia (three short movements) Concerto for Violin (finale in three movements). The composition suggests a rather substantial degree of virtuosity of Tessarini himself. The Tessarini Consort is a specially selected group of members and associates of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra in Connecticut. They are led by Joza Karas, who is also responsible for restoring “La Stravaganza”. Mr. Karas obtained microfilm of the parts of “La Stravaganza” more than thirty five years ago from his good friend, the late musicologist, Dr. Douglas Green, formerly a professor at St. Joseph College in West Hartford, CT. The extremely difficult and time consuming task of reconstructing and creating a modern score occupied him for more than thirty years. He was able to complete it only after the advent of the home computer and mastering (or at least getting acquainted with) several computer music programs.