Pleyel: Duos for Violin and Cello, Op. 16, No. 1 in C Major, No. 2 in D Major and No. 3 in F Major

Ignaz Pleyel (1757-1831) was a prolific composer, businessman and piano builder. He was born in Austria and studied with Haydn in Vienna. Pleyel was in Strasbourg, France from 1783 to 1795 where he wrote most of his music, both sacred and secular. In 1797 he established Maison Pleyel, an important music publishing house for nearly 40 years. Pleyel’s music was wildly popular in his time but almost completely forgotten today.

These two movement duos were composed ca. 1788, and no fewer than 4 editions were published between 1788 and 1807. My new editions were done directly from the J. Schmitt edition of 1788-91, facsimiles of which are included.

All first movements are sonata form. No. 1 second movement is Andante ABA; No. 2 second movement is Menuet and Trio; No. 3 second movement is ABA.

All parts are of intermediate difficulty, with the cello parts occasionally in tenor and treble clefs.