A friend writes, asking for more information. Please write to me directly
if you don't wish to post a public reply.

   In researching program notes for an upcoming concert, I've come
   across this interesting case of musical forgery.  Three French
   composer-performer brothers, Francis, Henri and Marius Casadesus,
   all had a hand in unearthing previously unknown pieces by 18th century
   composers.  But it now appears that they wrote the pieces themselves.

   Henri (1879-1947), a friend of Saint Saens, seems to have been
   responsible for the "J C Bach" Viola Concerto in C Minor, and for
   the "Handel" Viola Concerto in B Minor (which would be just about
   the earliest solo viola concerto in existence if it were real).
   Marius (1892-1981) "discovered" the Adeleide Violin Concerto in 1931,
   saying it was Mozart's first, and written in 1766 for Adeleide,
   daughter of Louis XV in France.

   On the amazingly comprehensive Casadesus family website

      http://www.casadesus.com/english/famille/Marius_F.html

   it says that in 1977 Marius admitted writing it himself.  But there
   seems to have been general doubt about its authenticity at least 20
   years before.

   The Casadesus brothers were highly respected, and did a great deal
   to revive interest in 18th century music and instruments.  The Boston
   Symphony Orchestra now owns Henri's collection of rare instruments.
   The forgeries were well received, with soloists such as Yehudi Menuhin
   and William Primrose apparently convinced by them.

   Does anyone know of any further background? There seems to be very
   little information about all of this.  The New Grove documents it
   briefly within its Casadesus and Viola entries.  But apart from the
   Marius "confession" I can't find any real facts.  I'd love to know
   more of the story if any other documentation exists.  When did the
   JC Bach and Handel examples first come to light? And are there any
   comparable cases?

Janos Gereben/SF
[log in to unmask]