Six petites pièces, op. 5

These Six petites pièces [op. 5] were first published in Paris in 1814 by Mme Benoist, a publisher who for many years had specialised in publishing songs of a popular nature and especially songs with guitar. Like opp. 1 and 2, which date from a similar period, this is a set of six contrasting pieces. They may have been originally composed at that time, or they may possibly incorporate material from Sor’s earlier period in Spain. The set is dedicated to Sor’s wife who was with Sor in Paris at that moment. This set appears less well balanced than either op. 1 or op. 2. As in those works, a short minuet introduces a longer waltz in the same key; but then another minuet precedes an allegro which is far longer than the other pieces so far. Another long piece follows, one which has become well known in the guitar world: the famous “Andante largo” (note, again, that the term should probably be interpreted as meaning “Largo, with a steady pace”, and not as slowly as the term Andante is often taken to mean today). Finally, a short waltz ends the set. The original title-page says that the work was “écrite selon la méthode ordinaire”; for the significance of this, see the notes on op. 7. Again, the original edition gives no opus number, which appears only in later Meissonnier editions. No. 1, bars 8 and 16: the harmonics are indicated in the original but their precise position is editorial. No. 2, bars 20-21: the long and doubtless intentional slur suggests lightness of touch. No. 4: in bar 77 the last two notes are CE in the original. In bar 96 the last note is G in the original. Here emended editorially. This edition is based on Mme Benoist’s edition. The Meissonnier edition has been compared. This edition comes from the new 2019 second edition of Sor’s New Complete Works for Guitar edited by Brian Jeffery. The Introduction and Index to the entire series are here in nkoda. This new edition is copyright © by Brian Jeffery 2019. Your cooperation is requested in not making illegal copies for other people.

Brian Jeffery