Arpeggiona Sonata by Esther Steenbergen and Olga Franssen

The arpeggione, also known as bowed guitar, violoncello guitar or guitar d’amore, was a stringed instrument with a fretted fingerboard and six strings, tuned like those of a classical guitar in two octaves ranging from E to e’. The first arpeggione was made in 1832 by Johann Georg Stauffer in Vienna.

Although the Arpeggione Sonata has been co-opted by cellists for as long as they have known for it’s existence – an ad lib cello part appeared in the very first edition in 1871 – it is perfectly suited for the guitar as well.

At first sight, the inclusion of the Arpeggione sonata in a recording of Schubert’s songs might seem a little strange. But if one considers this CD as a recording of Schubert’s music performed on the guitar, it turns out to be quite a natural choice. Further more, we enjoyed playing it so much that we decided to add it as an extra.

Tracklist