Sonatas (M42) (bk1) (e,e,g,G) (ed.Edmund-Davies)

Sonatas for Flute by G.F. Handel (1685-1759)
BOOK 1 of 3
For Flute and Piano
Flute part edited by Paul Edmund-Davies
Keyboard realization by John Alley
Includes a CD with performances by Paul Edmund-Davies

Handel’s eleven sonatas, most likely written between 1712 and 1728, have been considered ideally suited for the flute and a part of the main repertoire for the instrument for well over two hundred years. However, they originally started out as sonatas for other instruments (violin, recorder and oboe) and in different keys. Due to the popularity of the ‘German flute’ among musical amateurs in England during the late 1720s and early 1780s, it is most likely that Handel’s publisher arranged for these sonatas to be transposed into keys that would suit performance on this instrument, thus capitalizing on financial return on sales of the edition. It is now known whether or not Handel himself approved of this practice, but as the authenticity of the sonatas HWV374-376 is questionable, it would suggest that he had little or no knowledge of what was taking place.

Contents:
Sonata in e minor (HWV379)
Sonata in e minor (HWV359b)
Sonata in g minor (HWV360)
Sonata in G Major (HWV363b)