Antonio Scontrino: A te o cara for double bass and piano

About the Composition

This short composition by Scontrino is a transcription for double bass and piano of the famous quartet from the oper I Puritani, beginning with the words "A te o cara." 

The beauty of Bellini's melody has no additions, with a simple repetition of the theme in the high register and a short coda. I found the original manuscript in Fardelliana Library, Trapani (Sicily).

The first page shows the date of composition. The original was written in Tunis on 17 April 1875 and was probably therefore used by Scontrino himself as an encore during a concert held there.

-Nicola Malagugini

Tuning

Piano Parts are provided in orchestral (G Major) and solo (A Major) tuning.

About the Composer (from Wikipedia)

Scontrino studied at the Palermo Conservatory from 1861 and 1870 and later in Munich. He began performing as a double bassist in 1891. In 1898, he became a professor of composition at the Palermo Conservatory and also taught in Florence afterward. (Indeed, there are references to him as a teacher of counterpoint at the Florence Conservatory somewhat earlier, in 1897.)

He composed five operas (from 1879 to 1896), several large orchestral works (including symphonies), one concerto each for double bass, bassoon, and piano, four string quartets and a prelude and fugue for quartet, incidental music, pieces for piano, choral music, and lieder.

Scontrino's String Quartets are: E minor (Prelude and Fugue) 1895?; G minor in 4 movements, 1900; C major 4 movements, 1903; A minor 4 movements, 1905?; F major 4 movements, 1918?

The Conservatorio di Musica "Antonio Scontrino" in Trapani is named in his memory.