An unusual performance of Boccherini's fandango

[Juan Pablo Pira]

I found this on you tube looking for a completely different performance.

I'm sure you love that work and I'm sure you never imagined it could be played with a pi-pa.

Boccherini's fandango

By the way, does anyone know what kind of guitar Boccherini had in mind for this?

[Scot Tremblay]

The Chinese have been doing some very interesting renditions of western classical music on traditional chinese instruments as of late. Not only on Pipa but also on the Zhongruan and a couple others. It's worth a couple hours listening on utube.

 

From what I've read lately there seems to be a few thoughts floating around concerning the intended instrument. The five course baroque style instrument was still fairly common during Boccherinis time, the transitional six course was well on the scene and the six string was emerging.

 

Francois de Fossa, who is the first guitarist known today to be connected with the quintettes (there may have been others that we have no record of) argably intended them for the six string, which he played. Apparently the only extant edition is in de Fossas hand and according to him is a faithful copy of the original Boccherini arrangements.

 

So as the influence of the Baroque era was pretty much over by Boccherinis time I think it's safe to assume that either the six course or six string was the instrument he intended. I tend to lean towards the six course but...until we find some written record of Boccherinis thoughts or go back in time, it's only a guess...because I like the sound ;)