String Quartet No. 4 in F major

Domenico Cimarosa (1749-1801) was one of the most successful opera composers of the late 18th century. His purely instrumental works number very few in view of his immense operatic output; until recently we had known only one concerto for two flutes and orchestra, and thirty-two sonatas and several “symphonies” for harpsichord (not counting of course his opera overtures), the concerto for oboe and orchestra is a modern arrangement by A. Benjamin of certain harpsichord sonatas. From the Sei Quartetti, which are found under the name of Domenico Cimarosa in the Music Department of the National Museum, Prague, (Sign. XU I C 63) we present in this edition the following three quartets; no. 1 in D major, no. 4 in F major, and no. 6 in a minor. The manuscript was preserved in the collection of Graf Clam Gallas. I would like here to thank the director of the Music Department of the National Museum, Prague, Dr. Emil Hradecky, for his kind permission to consult this manuscript. Editorial technique: Our edition is based on the late 18th century manuscript cited above. Obvious faults as well as inconsistencies in the articulations based on parallel passages have been corrected. These corrections along with a few dynamic markings proposed by the editor, are shown in smaller print. Karl Lenski, Antwerp, Belgium, November 1974