N. Matteis. Ayrs For the Violin...The first Part ...[Other Ayrs...The Second Part], c.1679

Matteis, Nicola

Ayrs for the Violin...The first Part ...[Other Ayrs...The Second Part], no place or date [London: c.1679]

 2 volumes in one, 2 leaves and 120 pages, 1 leaf and 60 pages, small oblong 4to (10.1 x 22cm), engraved music, the violin part and the corresponding bass part on adjacent pages, early ownership inscription to p.78 of first part ("John Peason His Book [?]"), later manuscript annotations to front free endpaper, Dolmetsch Library stamp and pencil shelfmark ("II B 33, 1 [...2]") to verso of titles, nineteenth-century calf, second part without one preliminary leaf and pp.61-70, tear to pp.95/96 of first part, trimmed to plate, slightly affecting engraved surface in a few places, old repair to pp.59/60 of second part, some browning and staining, covers worn, repairs to spine and hinge with translucent adhesive tape

RARE: we have no record of this edition (first and second parts) being offered for sale at auction. Only 5 copies are listed by RISM in Britain and the United States.

Originally from Naples, Matteis (died c.1707) was the foremost violinist in England during the Restoration period. His son of the same name was also a celebrated violinist. Matteis's Ayrs are among the few editions published expressly for the violin at this time, the start of the serious repertory and popularity of the instrument in England. The two parts of the Ayrs were first published as Arie diverse...libro primo [...secondo] in 1676.

LITERATURE:

RISM M 1377 and M 1379; ESTC R43001; TNG, xvi, pp.134-135