As early as 1932, Johann Nepomuk David included the guitar in a trio with flute and viola, which bore a personal dedication to Karl Scheit. Nearly a decade later, in 1940, David wrote a sonata for the same scoring (Werk 26). This was the period in which the master began developing a fondness for old instruments. We can be grateful to this predilection for having stimulated the creation not only of the “Variations on an original Theme” for recorder (flute) and lute also of the present sonata for lute solo.

This sonata, written in the lute tuning G C F A D G, can be transposed for the guitar in the original pitch, and without any change of notes. One needs merely tune the G string to F sharp, transpose a minor third lower and set the capotasto across the third fret.

Karl Scheit, the editor of this piece which was dedicated to him, often played this composition on the guitar for the composer with David's full approval. Scheit is certain of the composer's assent to the publication of this work in the present version. Hence this sonata, complete with appropriate fingering, is now available to the guitarist.

Thomas Christian David, Vienna, Spring 1981