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.
This is assumed to be a recorder sonata because of its
range, but Handel failed to specify a solo instrument.
It falls into three brief movements, all of which would
be recycled into other works. The opening Allegro,
which is a courante in all but name, would become the
second Allegro in the overture to Scipione. It features
an active yet graceful melodic line, which barely gives
the recorder player a moment to breathe. The somber
Adagio would find its way into the third movement of
Handel's Organ Concerto Op. 4/4. The concluding
Allegro, with its particularly busy harpsichord part,
provides a sparkling end to the sonata; it would soon
be recast as the finale of the Violin Sonata in A, Op.
1/3.
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flute_sonata_in_B_flat_m
ajor_(HWV_377)).
Although originally written for Flute & Continuo, I
created this Interpretation of the Sonata in Bb Major
(HWV 377) for Flute & Strings (2 Violins, Viola &
Cello).