Arnold, Samuel (1740-1802)

The present work was published in orchestral parts by John Welcker in ca 1771 and reissued by Longman and Broderip a decade later. No autograph score survives or a copy of the tpublisher's catalogue until at least 1778. Longman and Broderip announced a reissue in their catalogue for 1781: by this time Arnold had established a regular business relationship with this firm.We can reasonably suppose that the Longman and Broderip edition is a reprint of Welcker's. Welcker also published a keyboard version in ca 1771 (composers and publishers alike were alert to the commercial potential of offering transcriptions of this kind);the style of the arrangements indicates Arnold's involvement.

The only source of this edition is a single surviving copy of Longman and Broderip's orchestral parts (minus second horns) now held in the British Library under the signature h.2770 (2). The title page reads: "Six / Overtures / in Eight Parts / COMPOSED BY / Dr. Arnold / OPERA. 8th. Price 15' / [rule] / LONDON / Printed for and Sold by Longman and Broderip No. 26 Cheapside / Where may be had for Concerts &c [three columns of titles]". The edition presents as faithfully as possible the intentions of this source. The style and notation of articulation and dynamic markings have been standardised throughout, and, where missing from the parts,markings have been reconstructed from parallel passages. The notation of appoggiature has also be standardised to minimise confusion. Obvious wrong notes have been corrected without comment; editorial emendations with no authority from the source are placed within brackets.

Robert Hoskins