Flute sonata in E minor (HWV 375)
Encyclopedia
The Flute sonata in E minor (HWV 375) is thought to have been composed by George Frideric Handel
, for flute and keyboard (harpsichord
). The date of composition of the work is unknown, but it was first published in 1730. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG
xlviii,134; and HHA
iv/3,63.
The authenticity of the sonata as such is uncertain, though three of the movements were certainly composed by Handel, but for other instruments. It is referred to as "Halle Sonata No. 2" (in German "Hallenser Sonate Nr. 2"), following Chrysander
's assumption that it was an early work, composed during Handel's boyhood in Halle, before 1703. This cannot be true for this particular sonata, however, because the first two movements are a transposition into E minor of the corresponding movements of the final version of the much-revised Sonata for oboe in C minor, HWV 366, which dates from 1711–12. The fourth movement, also, was originally a minuet in G minor for harpsichord, later printed in 1733, while the third movement is a Grave whose attribution to Handel is very doubtful. The Chrysander edition
indicates that the work is for flute ("Traversa"), and published it as Sonata XVII.
A typical performance of the work takes almost seven minutes.
:
(Movements do not contain repeat markings unless indicated. The number of bars is taken from the Chrysander edition, and is the raw number in the manuscript—not including repeat markings.)
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
, for flute and keyboard (harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
). The date of composition of the work is unknown, but it was first published in 1730. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG
Händel-Gesellschaft
Between 1858 and 1902, the Händel-Gesellschaft, or "German Handel Society," produced a collected 105-volume edition of the works of Georg Frideric Handel. Even though the collection was initiated by the society, many of the volumes were published by Friedrich Chrysander working alone...
xlviii,134; and HHA
Hallische Händel-Ausgabe
The Hallische Händel-Ausgabe is a multi-volume collection of the works of George Frideric Handel. It was first published in the 1950s: initially as an adjunct to the HG edition, but by 1958 as a collected edition in its own right...
iv/3,63.
The authenticity of the sonata as such is uncertain, though three of the movements were certainly composed by Handel, but for other instruments. It is referred to as "Halle Sonata No. 2" (in German "Hallenser Sonate Nr. 2"), following Chrysander
Friedrich Chrysander
Karl Franz Friedrich Chrysander was a German music historian and critic, whose edition of the works of George Frideric Handel and authoritative writings on many other composers established him as a pioneer of 19th-century musicology.Born at Lübtheen, in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Chrysander was the son...
's assumption that it was an early work, composed during Handel's boyhood in Halle, before 1703. This cannot be true for this particular sonata, however, because the first two movements are a transposition into E minor of the corresponding movements of the final version of the much-revised Sonata for oboe in C minor, HWV 366, which dates from 1711–12. The fourth movement, also, was originally a minuet in G minor for harpsichord, later printed in 1733, while the third movement is a Grave whose attribution to Handel is very doubtful. The Chrysander edition
XV Handel solo sonatas (Chrysander)
XV Solos for a German Flute, Hoboy, or Violin with a Thorough Bass for the Harpsichord or Bass Violin was published by Friedrich Chrysander in 1879. The 72 page volume contains sonatas, for various instruments, composed by George Frideric Handel. The words on the cover of the publication are:...
indicates that the work is for flute ("Traversa"), and published it as Sonata XVII.
A typical performance of the work takes almost seven minutes.
Movements
The work consists of four movementsMovement (music)
A movement is a self-contained part of a musical composition or musical form. While individual or selected movements from a composition are sometimes performed separately, a performance of the complete work requires all the movements to be performed in succession...
:
| Movement | Type | Key signature | Time signature | Bars | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adagio | E minor | 4/4 | 18 | Ends on a B major chord. Taken from the oboe sonata in C minor (HWV 366) Oboe sonata in C minor (HWV 366) The Oboe sonata in C minor was composed by George Frideric Handel for oboe and keyboard . The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 8, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh... . Contains dipping lines and artful modulations. |
| 2 | Allegro | E minor | 4/4 | 45 | Taken from the oboe sonata in C minor (HWV 366) Oboe sonata in C minor (HWV 366) The Oboe sonata in C minor was composed by George Frideric Handel for oboe and keyboard . The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 8, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh... . The main theme, initially treated with strict canonic imitation in the continuo, is chromatic and full of awkward intervals. Contains semiquaver passagework. |
| 3 | Grave | E minor | 3/4 | 27 | A brief movement containing a broad sweeping elaboration of the melodic line. |
| 4 | Minuet | E minor | 3/4 | 36 | Two sections (16 and 20 bars)—each with repeat markings. Also used as the fourth movement of the keyboard suite HWV 434. Has strong echoes (especially in the bass) in the minuet of the G major section of the Water Music. |
(Movements do not contain repeat markings unless indicated. The number of bars is taken from the Chrysander edition, and is the raw number in the manuscript—not including repeat markings.)
See also
- List of solo sonatas by George Frideric Handel
- XV Handel solo sonatasXV Handel solo sonatas (Chrysander)XV Solos for a German Flute, Hoboy, or Violin with a Thorough Bass for the Harpsichord or Bass Violin was published by Friedrich Chrysander in 1879. The 72 page volume contains sonatas, for various instruments, composed by George Frideric Handel. The words on the cover of the publication are:...
(publication by Chrysander)