Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 – 1759) was a German,
later British, baroque composer who spent the bulk of
his career in London, becoming well known for his
operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Handel
received important training in Halle and worked as a
composer in Hamburg and Italy before settling in London
in 1712; he became a naturalised British subject in
1727. He was strongly influenced both by the great
composers of the Italian Baroque and by the
middle-German polyphonic chora...(+)
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 – 1759) was a German,
later British, baroque composer who spent the bulk of
his career in London, becoming well known for his
operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Handel
received important training in Halle and worked as a
composer in Hamburg and Italy before settling in London
in 1712; he became a naturalised British subject in
1727. He was strongly influenced both by the great
composers of the Italian Baroque and by the
middle-German polyphonic choral tradition.
The 14 sonatas published as Handel's "Op. 1" have a
complex history. Composed at various stages in his
career, they were first issued under that designation
by the Amsterdam publisher Roger in the 1720s, a
publication rapidly followed around 1726 by a "more
correct" but equally unauthorized edition from Handel's
London publisher, John Walsh. In fact, modern
comparison with Handel's autograph of both publications
has revealed serious errors. The Sonata in C minor for
Oboe and Bass Continuo, which was published as No. 8 in
the Roger and Walsh collections, is one of the earlier
works included, being generally accepted by Handel
scholars as having been composed during around 1711 or
1712, the period when he first settled in London
following the sensational success of his opera Rinaldo
in February 1711. During the early years of the
eighteenth century, the oboe and recorder (both of
which were at this time played by the same performer)
challenged the previous hegemony of the violin as a
solo instrument in sonatas, although this is the only
oboe sonata included in "Op. 1." There are four short
movements, an expressive Largo, an Allegro based on a
chromatic theme, an Adagio, and a lively concluding
Bourrée anglaise.
In 1724, Witovogel of Amsterdam published a collection
of 15 solo sonatas with basso continuo composed by
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759). Although the solo
parts could be played by the violin, the flute or the
oboe, six of the 15 have established themselves as
violin sonatas. Of these, the Sonata in D major has
established itself as perhaps the most popular of the
six. In four movements, arranged slow -- fast -- slow
-- fast, the Sonata in D major is Handel at his most
characteristic. The opening Affettuoso is as deeply
expressive as the best slow opera arias. The following
Allegro is as brilliantly virtuosic as in the best fast
opera arias. The following Larghetto in the minor is as
expressive as the opening movement, but with the darker
colorings of the tragic arias. The closing Allegro is
as virtuosic as the previous Allegro, but with a more
lively and dance-like feel.
Although originally written for Recorder & Keyboard, I
created this Interpretation of the Sonata in A Minor
(HWV 374 Opus 1 No 16) for Oboe & Strings (2 Violins,
Viola & Cello).
PARTITION