Recorder Sonata in C major, Op. 1, No. 2 HWV. 365 – George Frideric Handel

Recorder Sonata in C major, Op. 1, No. 2 HWV. 365 by George Frideric Handel

Handel likely completed this sonata for recorder and basso continuo in 1712. It is difficult to confirm the exact date due to the unusual publishing history of the piece. The first edition to include this work was a book titled ‘Sonates pour un Traversiere (flute) un Violon ou Hautbois Con Basso Continuo Composées par G. F. Handel’ (Sonatas for a Traversiere, a Violin or an Oboe, with Basso continuo, composed by G. F. Handel), published in 1726. This edition included 12 sonatas by Handel with this piece being listed as sonata no. 7. The publisher of this first edition was allegedly Jeanne Roger of Amsterdam, however this was found to be a forgery by the London publisher John Walsh.

Walsh would later publish another collection of 12 sonatas by Handel under his own publishing name off Walsh in 1731. This new edition was titled ‘Solos for a German Flute or Hoboy (oboe) or violin with a thorough Bass for the harpsichord or Bass violin, composer by Mr. Handel’.

The composition date of 1712 comes from the most reliable copy off the original cover letter for the manuscript done that year, which bears the Italian ‘flauto e cembalo’ (for flute and harpsichord).

This sonata is comprised of five movements:
I. Larghetto
II. Allegro
III. Larghetto
IV. A tempo di Gavotti
V. Allegro