Servais and Ghys - Variations brillantes et concertantes sur l’air God Save the King (Urtext Edition)

The Variations brillantes et concertantes sur l’air “God Save the King” is the result of the Servais-Ghys collaboration. It appears in Ghys’s catalog as Op. 38 and began life as an earlier version (Op. 23) for violin and piano.

The holograph manuscript is in the hands of both composers. An earlier dedication to “Général de Willmar, Ambassadeur de S. M. le Roi des Belges” is crossed out and replaced with the dedication to Meyerbeer. The title page also includes the inscription: “Ce morceau a été exécuté par les auteurs dans leurs Concerts à Londres.” The caption title on the first page of the score reads: “Duo concertant pour violon et violoncelle.” Above this, in manuscript, is noted: “Ghys et Servais, exécuté devant L. M. Britanniques. Londres 1835. Pétersbourg 1842.”

The piece opens with a majestic introduction in G minor. A transition follows, including cadenzas for both instruments, after which the theme is introduced by the violin, with the cello providing accompaniment. Five numbered variations follow, along with two unnumbered variations before the final coda.

Our edition is based on primary sources: the published score from circa 1845 (Schlesinger, Berlin, Plate No. S. 3148), housed at the Servais Society, and the autograph manuscript parts in the respective hands of Ghys and Servais.

The set includes a score and separate parts