As well known as Schubert's "arpeggione sonata" is, so unknown is the instrument to which the title of this sonata refers. This instrument, which bore the characteristics of both the cello and the guitar, has never been successful. Apart from Schubert's "arpeggione sonata", not a single work for this instrument has survived. In 1825 Schubert's friend Vincent Schuster published a method for the
… arpeggione. In the preface to this method, Schuster wrote that the sound of this instrument in its high registers was very much like an oboe, while the lower registers sounded like a basset horn. This interesting fact made cellist Hidemi Suzuki (student of Anner Bylsma and member of the Bach Collegium Japan) decide to experiment with a copy of an arpeggione. Despite the attractive sound, Suzuki decided to give up these experiments due to the limitations of the instrument. In order to achieve a comparable sound effect, Suzuki eventually opted for a violoncello piccolo from the second half of the 18th century. This performance has been released on CD in combination with Beethoven's "Cello Sonata No. 3". Pianist in this performance is Yoshiko Kojima. (HJ) _more
