Giovanni Benedetto Platti (1697-1763) was an Italian Baroque composer and oboist. In 1722, he was called to Würzburg to work for the prince-bishop of Bamberg and Würzburg, Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn. There he married Theresia Langprückner, a soprano singer with whom he had at least two children. Platti spent the rest of his life in Würzburg, working as a singer, instrument virtuoso, composer, and conductor.
I would like to bring attention to the pedagogical value of Platti's cello concertos. Each entry will include the WD number, key, grade level (based on ASTA), clefs used, the link to the editions, and a brief introduction to the work. Typically, if a passage goes above a D4, Platti switches to tenor clef. Overall, these works are not as difficult as Vivaldi's cello concertos and sonatas.
The key to the ASTA grading:
Grade 1: easy keys like D, G, and C major; easy rhythms with 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4 meters; exclusively in first position.
Grade 2: keys include D, G, C, F, B-flat, and A major, and D and G minor; rhythms and bowings are more difficult than Grade 1; use of 1-4 positions.
Grade 3: use of tenor clef; use of 1-7 positions; thumb on the center harmonic; longer slurring and other complex bowing styles; simple double stops.
Grade 4: use of thumb position and treble clef; more advanced double stops.
WD 646
C major
Movement titles: Allegro, [Largo], Presto
Grade: 2.5-3
Highest position used: 4
Solo part range: C2 - G4
Clef(s): bass, tenor
Edition link: Orchestra score and parts; Piano Reduction
About the work: The solo cello part does not go above a G4, although it is notated in tenor clef occasionally. There is no viola part in this piece. The second movement is played only by the soloist and the basso continuo.
WD 647
G major
Movement titles: Allegro, Largo e staccato, Presto
Grade: 2.5-3
Highest position used: 4
Solo part range: D2 - G4
Clef(s): bass, tenor
Edition link: Orchestra score and parts
About the work: The solo cello part does not go above a G4, although it is notated in tenor clef occasionally. There is no viola part in this piece. The second movement is technically in G minor but does not begin or end on the tonic.
WD 648
E minor
Movement titles: Allegro, Largo, Allegro
Grade: 3
Highest position used: 7
Solo part range: C2 - C5
Clef(s): bass, tenor
Edition link: Orchestra score and parts
About the work: The solo cello part goes up to a C5 once but generally stays in the first four positions. There is no viola part in this piece. The second movement is in C minor! The tonal language of the concerto is similar to that of early CPE Bach.
WD 649
E minor
Movement titles: Non tanto presto, Adagio assai, Allegro
Grade: 2.5-3
Highest position used: 4
Solo part range: C2 - G4
Clef(s): bass, tenor
Edition link: Orchestra score and parts
About the work: The violetta part may be substituted by the viola
WD 650
D major
Movement titles: Allegro, Adagio, Allegro
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WD 651
D major
Grade: 2.5-3
Highest position used: 4
Solo part range: C#2 - G4
Clef(s): bass, tenor
Edition link: Orchestra score and parts
About the work: There is no viola part in this piece.
WD 652
D major
Movement titles: Allegro, Largo, Presto
Grade: 2.5-3
Highest position used: 4
Solo part range: D2 - G#4
Clef(s): bass, tenor
Edition link: Orchestra score and parts
About the work: There is no viola part in this piece.
WD 653
D major
Movement titles: Allegro, Adagio assai, Non tanto Presto
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WD 654
A major
Movement titles: Allegro assai, Largo e cantabile, Presto
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WD 655
D minor
Movement titles: Largo-Allegro, Siciliano, Allegro
Grade: 3
Highest position used: 7
Solo part range: C2 - C5
Clef(s): bass, tenor
Edition link: Orchestra score and parts
About the work: The first movement is a fugue on a 4-note motive.
WD 657
D minor
Movement titles: Non tanto Allegro, Adagio, Fuga. Alla breve
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WD 658
D minor
Movement titles: Non tanto presto, Largo, Allegro
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WD 659
D minor
Movement titles: Allegro, Largo, Presto
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WD 660
G minor
Movement titles: Adagio e staccato, Largo, Allegro
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WD 661
G minor
Movement titles: Allegro, Largo, Allegro
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WD 662
B-flat major
Movement titles: Allegro, Grave, Presto
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WD 663
G minor
Movement titles: Grave-Allegro, Largo e staccato, Allegro
Grade: 2.5-3
Highest position used: 4
Solo part range: C2 - A5 (middle harmonic)
Clef(s): bass, tenor
Edition link: Orchestra score and parts
About the work: There is no viola part in this piece. The first movement is a 4-voice fugue
WD 664
G minor
Movement titles: Andante, Grave e staccato, Allegro assai
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WD 665
G minor
Movement titles: Allegro, Adagio, Allegro
Grade: 2.5-3
Highest position used: 4
Solo part range: D2 - G4
Clef(s): bass, tenor
Edition link: Orchestra score and parts
About the work: The first movement has a Vivaldian imitation between the violins.
WD 666
G minor
Movement titles: Allegro, Adagio, Allegro
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Clef(s): bass, tenor
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WD 667
G minor
Movement titles: Allegro, Adagio, Allegro assai
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WD 668
C minor
Movement titles: Largo-Allegro, Siciliana, Allegro
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WD 669
C minor
Movement titles: Adagio-e staccato-Allegro, Largo, Presto
Grade: 3
Highest position used: 7
Clef(s): bass, tenor
Solo part range: C2 - C5
Edition link: Orchestra score and parts
About the work: This work is one of the longer cello concertos by Platti. The solo part is almost fully integrated into the ensemble texture, making it more like a "symphony-concerto" as opposed to a solo concerto. The solemn, imitative nature of the opening movement is reminiscent of the sacred works of the time. The solo cello part goes up to the seventh position.