Investigating Nineteenth-Century Transcriptions through History of Opera and Music Publishing: Mauro Giuliani’s Sources for Two Themes in Le Rossiniane No. 2, Op. 120, and No. 3, Op. 121

Abstract

In a letter to the publisher Ricordi dated 6 February 1821, the Italian guitarist and composer Mauro Giuliani wrote that, after getting acquainted with Gioachino Rossini in Rome, Rossini lent him many autographs of his operas so that the guitarist could transcribe whatever he liked from them. From this loan were born Le Rossiniane Opp. 119–124, six potpourris for solo guitar which are considered Giuliani’s greatest musical accomplishment. Although it is likely that most of the sources of Le Rossiniane were Rossini’s originals, there is also epistolary evidence that Giuliani also transcribed themes from scores provided to him by his publishers. This fact is the point of departure from which this article explores the possible sources for two opera themes transcribed in Le Rossiniane No. 2, Op. 120, and No. 3, Op. 121. The data presented here, coming from opera and music publishing history, conveys that such themes may have been transcribed from two specific vocal scores issued by Vienna-based publishing houses – ‘Cappi and Diabelli’ and ‘Artaria’. Additionally, the exploration of the context of the opera themes at issue has also brought to light some interesting unpublished facts.