Handel - The Recorder Sonatas

£9.05

In stock - available for despatch within 1 working day

Label: Brilliant Classics

Cat No: 93792

Barcode: 5028421937922

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Genre: Chamber

Release Date: 16th February 2009

Works

Handel, George Frideric

Recorder (Flute) Sonata in G minor, HWV360 op.1 no.2
Recorder Sonata in A minor, op.1 no.4, HWV362
Recorder Sonata in B flat major, HWV377 'Fitzwilliam I'
Recorder Sonata in C major, HWV365 op.1 no.7
Recorder Sonata in D minor, HWV367a op.1 no.9a 'Fitzwilliam'
Recorder Sonata in F major, HWV369 op.1 no.11
Violin Sonata in G major, HWV358

Artists

Erik Bosgraaf (recorder)
Francesco Corti (harpsichord)

Works

Handel, George Frideric

Artists

Erik Bosgraaf (recorder)
Francesco Corti (harpsichord)

About

Handel’s sonatas for recorder were composed in the years 1724–6. What is remarkable is that he found the time to concentrate on such work at a time when his operas were in great demand in London: this is the period of Scipione and Agrippina. It will come as no surprise that the sonatas contain a lot of ‘operatic’ material, from Handel’s own operas, and those of his contemporaries such as Georg Muffat.

Many of the most popular arias from Handel’s operas had been published in transcriptions for recorder and keyboard – the ancestors of the operatic paraphrases by Liszt and Henselt in the 19th century. Although they can be considered as domestic music, the keyboard parts are quite virtuosic (Handel was an excellent harpsichordist), and the composer’s markings are detailed, lending credence to the view that these works were also used as exercises.

Handel enthusiasts will find much that is familiar in these works, sprightly fast movements and operatic larghettos, the latter no doubt influenced by the operatic workload Handel faced at the time.

Comprehensive booklet notes are included on each sonata, the instruments and the composer.