Hi just playing the italian concerto, wondering how the trills are to be played.....don't have a formal guide....can I ask if any one knows where to get one/
Thanks

If you don't have it, try "Ornaments and Abbreviations" by William Lovelock. The one I have is ancient and it says at the bottom of the front cover - "Owners and sole selling agents - William Elkin Music Services, Station Rd Industrial Estate, Salhouse, Norwich, NR13 6NY." I don't know where mine came from; it actually might have been a second hand bookshop, so I really don't know if it's still available. I hate working things out from a book though. I tend more often to be lazy and listen carefully to recordings to hear what others do. (Sh.... ) Angela Hewitt is a good bet. When I can emulate all aspects of her playing I'll let you know.

The problem is the way the trill is written impacts on how it's played so there's no one answer fits all. I use keyboard interpretation by Howard Ferguson http://www.amazon.co.uk/Keyboard-Interpret...4748&sr=8-1

It's invaluable for this period.

I play the first sonata for viola da gamba by Bach on the viola and my teacher who plays a lot of baroque music told me that the trill should be begun by the superior note if the consecutive notes (the one before the trill note and the trill note) are descending or the same note and by the inferior note if the consecutive notes are climbing.

He told me that it is referenced on the treaty by Quantz - a method to play the flute.

A rough guess without having seen the trill in question would be start with a longer note on the note above, then gradually speed up, depending on the length of the note that's written.