Original manuscript

Gioacchino Rossini"s heroic opera "Tancredi" was based on Voltaire's tragedy of the same name, from which a libretto was written by Gaetano Rossi. Rossini (1792–1868) was just 20 years old when Tancredi was first performed on 6th February 1813, during the Carnival-Statione, in the Venetian Teatro La Fenice. Rossini achieved his first big success with this opera, and it subsequently made his name throughout Italy and Europe. The full score, from the manuscript in the Austrian National Library in Vienna (SM No. 3841), has the following front cover:

Wenzel Sedlak was born on 4th August 1776 in Bohemian Jesborzitz and died on 20th November 1851 in Vienna, although these exact dates are not certain. Sedlak was a professional clarinettist and composer, starting his musical career in the employment of Prince Auersperg. A few years later, in 1808, he entered the service of Prince Liechtenstein of Feldsberg where he was employed for music for wind ensemble (Harmoniemusik). In about 1808 Joseph Triebensee, the ensemble's oboist and conductor, resigned and Sedlak, who was almost the same age as Triebensee, took over the position, holding it until 1830. It was thanks to Triebensee that Sedlak learnt the art of arrangement, a skill in which he made his name. This was particularly in the field of ballet and opera music, for which Sedlak was the foremost representative in Vienna for a quarter of a century. This Tancredi transcription belongs to this period, as well as other arrangements of works by Bellini, Donizetti, Meyerbeer, Weber, Auber and Beethoven. Of the many manuscripts of Sedlak that still exist in various libraries, more than 55 are for Harmoniemusik.

Movements

1. Overture
2. Allegro. Chorus: "Pi dolce e placide"
3. Allegro moderato. Cavatina: "E tu quando tornerai al tuo ben"
4. Andante sostenuto . Cavatina: "Tu che accendi questo core"
5. Allegro maestoso
6. Allegro giusto. Duet: "Lasciami non t'ascolto"
7. Tempo di marcia. Marcia: "Alla gloria"
8. Andante. Duet: "Ah se de"mali miei"
9. Allegretto. Chorus: "Regna il terror"
10. Andantino. Aria: "Perch turbar la calma"
11. Allegro moderato. Chorus: "Plaudite, o popoli"
12. Allegro. Finale: "Tra quai soavi palpiti"