222 - [MUSIC] ROUSSEAU, Jean. Treatise on the Viola, containing an interesting essay on its origin, a general illustration of its fingerboard in four figures, with explanations, and a description of its various playing techniques….

[MUSIC] ROUSSEAU, Jean. Treatise on the Viola, containing an interesting essay on its origin, a general illustration of its fingerboard in four figures, with explanations, and a description of its various playing techniques…. A rare first edition of this comprehensive instructional manual entirely devoted to the viola da gamba, containing numerous scores and a large fold-out plate. Paris, Christophe Ballard, 1687. In-8 (125 x 180 mm), full brown speckled sheepskin, ribbed spine decorated with gilt fleurons, gilt roulette on the edges. 9 unnumbered folios and 151 pages, headbands, initials, and tailpieces.One fold-out plate, numerous musical scores within the text, and a substantial final section of 31 pages of end-text scores. Cracks in the spine with leather missing at the bottom, corners heavily worn, small wormhole on the lower cover. Rare, minor foxing; a tear along the inner margin of the fold-out plate, reinforced with adhesive tape. First edition of this major treatise on the history of the viola and the viola da gamba. Jean Rousseau (1644–1699), one of the most eminent viola players of the 17th century, presents an innovative approach to left-hand fingerings as well as bowing techniques. The large fold-out plate accurately illustrates the diatonic and chromatic positions on the fingerboard, while the last 31 pages provide sample scores for three transposition methods. A handwritten bookplate on the flyleaf by Pierre Mary, dated 1739, who also inscribed his name on the fold-out plate. A bookplate crossed out on the title page and an ink annotation partially crossed out in the errata. Uncommon. A fairly well-preserved copy in its period binding.