XV Handel solo sonatas (Chrysander)

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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 or attributed to George Frideric Handel. The words on the cover of the publication are: Sonate da Camera di G.F.Handel. The publication includes all the sonatas as published by Walsh in 1732; and those sonatas, as well as extras included by Chrysander, include the body of work that is known as Handel's "Opus 1". [1]

Contents

In addition to the 15 sonatas indicated by the title of the publication, Chrysander appended the scores of four additional sonatas, making nineteen in all. The first sixteen sonatas (Ia, Ib, and numbers II to XV) were included as part of the HG volume 27. Sonata VI and the final four sonatas were included as part of HG volume 48 (pp. 112–139).

The musical instrument mentioned at the start of each sonata does not always match the instrument for which the work was originally written by Handel, however Chrysander was aware that the sale of the publication would be enhanced by the inclusion of a wide variety of instruments.[ citation needed ]

Each sonata displays the melody and bass lines—with the expectation that a competent keyboard player would supply the omitted inner parts based on the figured bass markings.

Despite the title, there are five instruments mentioned in the work: the Western concert flute, the recorder, the oboe, the violin, and the viola da gamba.

Summary

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Friedrich Chrysander

The following table lists each of the sonatas included by Chrysander in his publication of 1879, as well as information about the instrument, the key, and the original sonata by Handel.

Sonata TitlePageInstrumentKey signatureHandel's sonata
2FluteE minor Flute sonata in E minor (HWV 379). (This version was not present in the Walsh publication.)
6FluteE minor Flute sonata in E minor (HWV 359b).
9RecorderG minor Recorder sonata in G minor (HWV 360).
12ViolinA major Violin sonata in A major (HWV 361).
15RecorderA minor Recorder sonata in A minor (HWV 362).
19FluteG major Flute sonata in G major (HWV 363b).
22OboeG minor Violin sonata in G minor (HWV 364a).
25RecorderC major Recorder sonata in C major (HWV 365).
29OboeC minor Oboe sonata in C minor (HWV 366).
32FluteB minor Flute sonata in B minor (HWV 367b). Chrysander published what is now considered to be Handel's Opus 1 No. 9b.
(Handel's Opus 1 No. 9a is the Recorder sonata in D minor (HWV 367a).)
37ViolinG minor Violin sonata in G minor (HWV 368). Probably spurious.
40RecorderF major Recorder sonata in F major (HWV 369).
42ViolinF major Violin sonata in F major (HWV 370). Probably spurious.
47ViolinD major Violin sonata in D major (HWV 371). Not published by Walsh—the designation of Opus 1 No. 13 is by Chrysander.
51ViolinA major Violin sonata in A major (HWV 372). Published by Walsh ca. 1730 (pseudo-Roger) as op. 1, no. 10—the designation of Opus 1 No. 14 is by Chrysander.
54ViolinE major Violin sonata in E major (HWV 373). Published by Walsh ca. 1730 (pseudo-Roger) as op. 1, no. 12—the designation of Opus 1 No. 15 is by Chrysander.
57FluteA minor Flute sonata in A minor (HWV 374). In this publication the work is sub-titled "(v. Sonata I — XV: vol. 27, pag. 1 — 56)". Of doubtful authenticity. Also known as "Halle sonata No. 1". No. 1 of Six Solos, Four for a German Flute … Compos’d by Mr Handel, Sigr Geminiani, Sigr Somis, Sigr Brivio (London, 1730).
61FluteE minor Flute sonata in E minor (HWV 375). Doubtful authenticity. Also known as "Halle sonata No. 2". No. 2 of Six Solos, Four for a German Flute … Compos’d by Mr Handel, Sigr Geminiani, Sigr Somis, Sigr Brivio (London, 1730). Movements 1–2 from HWV 366; movement 4 = keyboard minuet in G minor.
64FluteB minor Flute sonata in B minor (HWV 376). Doubtful authenticity. Also known as "Halle sonata No. 3". No. 3 of Six Solos, Four for a German Flute … Compos’d by Mr Handel, Sigr Geminiani, Sigr Somis, Sigr Brivio (London, 1730).
67Viola da GambaC majorNo HWV number (spurious—possibly by J.M. Leffloth). [2] For an unknown reason, Chrysander omitted the "XIX" from the title of the sonata. The bass is not figured. The work was also published in HG xlviii,112.

See also

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Related Research Articles

Händel-Gesellschaft

Between 1858 and 1902, the Händel-Gesellschaft produced a collected 105-volume edition of the works of George Frideric Handel. Even though the collection was initiated by the society, many of the volumes were published by Friedrich Chrysander working alone. The wording on the title page of the volumes is "Georg Friedrich Händel's Werke. Ausgabe der Deutschen Händelgesellschaft" which translates as "Georg Friedrich Handel's works. Edition of the German Handel Society". Chrysander's work has been criticised, however the scale of his achievement is also praised. The collection's abbreviation of "HG" can be used to identify individual works by Handel; for example Handel's Messiah can be referred to as "HG xlv". For practical use, the HG system has been superseded by the HWV numbering system. The 105 volumes do not contain the complete works of Handel—with at least 250 of his works unpublished in the collection.

The Flute sonata in G major was composed by George Frideric Handel in F major for the oboe, and was transposed by an unknown hand to G major, for flute and keyboard (harpsichord). The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 5, as it was first published in 1726 or slightly later by the London publisher Walsh, in an edition falsely attributed to Jeanne Roger of Amsterdam. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii, 19; and HHA iv/3,28. The sonata was originally composed as an oboe sonata in F major.

The Flute sonata in E minor was composed by George Frideric Handel for flute and keyboard (harpsichord). The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 1b, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,6; and HHA iv/3,10.

The Flute sonata in E minor was composed by George Frideric Handel for flute and keyboard (harpsichord). The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 1a, and was first published in 1879 by Chrysander. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,2; and HHA iv/3,2.

The Flute sonata in B minor is a work for flute and keyboard (harpsichord), however the sonata was originally composed by George Frideric Handel as a Recorder sonata in D minor . Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii, 32; and HHA iv/3,42.

The Violin sonata in D minor was composed by George Frideric Handel, for violin and keyboard (harpsichord). The work is also referred to as HHA iv/18,10.

The Violin sonata in D major was composed by George Frideric Handel, for violin and keyboard (harpsichord). Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,47; and HHA iv/4,28.

The Oboe sonata in C minor was composed by George Frideric Handel for oboe and keyboard (harpsichord). The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 8, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,29; and HHA iv/18,32.

It is impossible to say how many flute sonatas were composed by George Frideric Handel, but the correct number is somewhere between none and eight. There are many reasons for the confusion: some of the sonatas were originally written for other instruments, some have uncertain authenticity, some contain borrowings from other Handel works, and some were published without Handel's knowledge. At least six of the sonatas are known to contain music written by Handel, although he may not have intended some of them to have been played by the flute.

The Sonata in G minor was composed by George Frideric Handel for recorder and harpsichord. The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 2, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,9; and HHA iv/3,16.

The Violin sonata in A major was composed by George Frideric Handel for violin and keyboard (harpsichord). The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 3, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,12; and HHA iv/4,2.

The Sonata in A minor was composed by George Frideric Handel for recorder and harpsichord. The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 4, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,15; and HHA iv/3,21.

The Sonata in C major, for recorder and harpsichord, was composed by George Frideric Handel. The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 7, and was first published in or shortly after 1726—in a collection of twelve sonatas titled Sonates pour un Traversiere un Violon ou Hautbois Con Basso Continuo Composées par G. F. Handel—purportedly in Amsterdam by Jeanne Roger, but now shown to have been a forgery by the London publisher John Walsh. Walsh republished this sonata in 1731 or 1732 under his own imprint in a similar collection, containing ten of the earlier sonatas and two new ones, with the new title Solos for a German Flute a Hoboy or Violin With a Thorough Bass for the Harpsichord or Bass Violin Compos'd by Mr. Handel. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,15; and HHA iv/3,33.

Handel solo sonatas (Walsh)

Solos for a German Flute a Hoboy or Violin with a Thorough Bass for the Harpsichord or Bass Violin Compos'd by Mr. Handel was published by John Walsh in 1732. It contains a set of twelve sonatas, for various instruments, composed by George Frideric Handel. The 63 page publication includes the sonatas that are generally known as Handel's Opus 1.

The Violin sonata in G minor is a work for violin and keyboard (harpsichord) that was originally thought to have been composed by George Frideric Handel. Modern scholars however believe it doubtful that the work was composed by Handel, and have labelled it as "spurious". The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 10, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,37; and HHA iv/4,28.

The Sonata in F major was composed by George Frideric Handel for recorder and harpsichord. The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 11, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,40; and HHA iv/3,52.

The Violin sonata in F major is a work for violin and keyboard (harpsichord) that was originally thought to have been composed by George Frideric Handel. Modern scholars however believe it doubtful that the work was composed by Handel, and have labelled it as "spurious". The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 12, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,42; and HHA iv/4,40.

The Violin sonata in G minor was composed by George Frideric Handel for violin and keyboard (harpsichord). The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 6, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,22; and HHA iv/18,6. Also published in HG xlviii,118.

The Violin sonata in A major is a work for violin and keyboard (harpsichord) that was originally thought to have been composed by George Frideric Handel. Modern scholars however believe it doubtful that the work was composed by Handel, and have labelled it as "spurious". The work was first published in 1730 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,51; and HHA iv/4,46.

The Violin sonata in E major is a work for violin and keyboard (harpsichord) that was originally thought to have been composed by George Frideric Handel. Modern scholars however believe it doubtful that the work was composed by Handel, and have labelled it as "spurious". The work was first published in 1730 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,54; and HHA iv/4,55.

References

  1. ↑ Hicks, Anthony (2001). "Handel, George Frideric". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians . x (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan. p. 801.
  2. ↑ Hicks, Anthony (2001). "Handel, George Frideric". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians . x (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan. p. 802.
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