Divertimento in C ("Für Rhiannon")

by Fred Nachbaur (c) 1994
based on "Study in B Flat" by Fernando Sor, Public Domain

This little divertimento was inspired by the beautiful but melodically sparse "Study in B Flat"
by Fernando Sor. Melody (lead) and harmony parts were added, and the arrangement filled out with
a bass part. All parts are quite easy, and hopefully will not pose any great challenges to
beginning to intermediate musicians. The piece should be well suited to children, and I hope
that music teachers will find it suitable as a performance piece for their students.

Many combinations of instruments can be used, either solo or in ensembles of up to five players.
The lead part (melody) can be played on virtually any melodic instrument. It is written to
suggest the chords implicitly, and has often been played solo by my violinist daughter
(to whom the piece is dedicated) in busking situations.

Two similar instruments can be used to play the lead and harmony parts. Alternately, the lead
and bass parts played together can be an interesting arrangement. Rhiannon and I have played it
with her on lead, and I filling in the continuo part on electric guitar. Similarly, three
players can take lead, harmony and continuo, or lead, harmony and bass. A quartet can play the
four parts, and a bass can be added to double the cello part for a quintet arrangement.

Some possibilities:

LEAD - violin, electric or acoustic guitar, oboe, flute, clarinet, keyboard, etc.
HARMONY - any of the above, or viola, chromatic harmonica, melodica, etc.
CONTINUO - electric, acoustic or classical guitar, harpsichord, accordion, piano, etc.
BASS - Cello, electric or acoustic bass, bassoon, etc.

The MIDI demo tape uses flutes for and harmony, classic guitar for continuo, and cello for bass
(doubled with electric bass an octave lower).

If playing the continuo part on guitar, use a capo at the second fret. This transposes from the
original key of B-flat, to the key of C for the purposes of this piece. This is an (almost)
verbatim copy of Sor's Study, with minor changes in some of the arpeggio directions to improve
the guitar's interaction with the other parts. I have also taken the liberty of adding an intro
and coda.

I hope you enjoy the piece. I don't expect royalties or other remuneration unless you record it
and make a bundle. 

Fred Nachbaur, December 1996 rev. Jan. 1999