Count Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer (1692-1766): A Master unmasked or the Pergolesi-Ricciotti Puzzle solved - Dunning, Albert 1936-2005; Rimmer, Joan (Buren Knuf, 1980)
Unico van Wassenaar probably composed these pieces between 1725 and 1740 for the house concerts he and Count Willem Bentinck organised for a limited audience of noblemen. They were published in 1740 by Ricciotti in The Hague with a dedication to Count Willem Bentinck, though without any mention of the composer. Presumably Unico van Wassenaar himself was not convinced of his musical talent. All this caused confusion around the paternity of these compositions until 1980. The research done by the musicologist Albert Dunning about this matter, was very convincing.All six concertos are characterised by great harmonic richness and melodic inventiveness with an Italianising influence. Each concerto contains four movements with two fast and two slow movements each. The compositions charm the listener with their striking sonority, alternating between lyrical passages and moments of reflection and dynamic-dancing movements.
Keywords: Wassenaer, Unico Wilhelm van -- Graaf -- 1692-1766; Pergolesi, Giovanni Battista -- 1710-1736; Composer; Music history; Concerto