"Three solos for the violoncello with accompaniment for a bass" by Johan Arnold Dahmen music manuscript, 1794

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

Public Domain. There are no known restrictions.

Preferred citation:

"Three solos for the violoncello with accompaniment for a bass" by Johan Arnold Dahmen music manuscript, C0422, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries

Summary

Extent:
.1 Linear Feet 1 folder
Creator:
Dahmen, Johan Arnold, 1766-1812
Abstract:
Music manuscript titled "Three solos for the violoncello with accompaniment for a bass" by Johan Arnold Dahmen containing handwritten and printed compositions.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

"Three solos for the violoncello with accompaniment for a bass" by Johan Arnold Dahmen music manuscript, C0422, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries

Background

Scope and content:

Handwritten and printed music manuscript by Dutch composer Johan Arnold Dahmen containing three previously unrecorded cello sonatas in C major, G major, and Bb major, doubling Dahmen's known compositions in the genre.

The manuscript is an oblong folio, contained inside early leather-backed flexible marbled boards with titling "Solos Violoncello" in gilt letters along the front spine, although the compositions appear to be written for performance by two cellos. Consists of 12 leaves with 8 hand-ruled staves and is signed by the composer on the first page under the title, which reads "Thre[e] solos for the violoncello with accompaniment for a bass music manuscript". Believed to be the only existing handwritten score by Dahmen.

Biographical / historical:

Johan Arnold Dahmen (also known as John Arnold or Johannes Arnoldus) was born in the Netherlands circa 1766, being baptized in The Hague on March 9, 1766. The son of musician Willem Dahmen, Johan grew up in a musical family and by 1787 was playing bass for the Collegium Musicium in Utrecht. In the winter of 1790 or 1791, Johan and his brother Peter, a violinist, left the Netherlands for London where both brothers continued performing, playing in Joseph Haydn's orchestra for the second series of concerts conducted by Peter Salomon; Joahn is listed as a principal instrument performer for Salomon's 1792 concert season.

Johan is known as possibly the last professional player of the viola da gamba, or gambist, and is known to have published at least 45 compositions, with an emphasis on string instruments. He passed away sometime at the beginning of September 1812 at the age of 46, with his burial recorded as September 5, 1812.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from J J Lubrano Music Antiquarians by Steve Gerber in Fall 2012.
Processing information:

Processing and finding aid completed by Meghan Glasbrenner in February 2024.

Arrangement:

This is a single item collection.

Physical location:
R 71, C 1, S 6
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard