Lisa Beznosiuk, a leading performer on early flutes, has travelled extensively as a soloist and orchestral principal, playing a wide range of 18th and 19th-century repertoire.
Historical Context
The oboe and recorder were introduced to England in the early 1670s by French players, while the transverse flute appeared after 1700.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Handel's solo sonatas were likely intended for public concerts and virtuoso performers, rather than for domestic music and amateurs, requiring considerable skill from both soloist and continuo players.
Composition History
Research in the 1970s revealed that some of the Flute Sonatas in early editions were crude transpositions of works for recorder, oboe, and violin, likely made by publisher John Walsh.
Compositional Technique
Handel was exceptional for his time in writing bass parts that engage in equal dialogue with the upper part, often using idiomatic keyboard figuration.
Historical Context
Before the 17th century, most sonatas for solo instrument and continuo were written for the violin, which was later rivalled by improved Baroque wind instruments.
Composition History
Early published editions of Handel's 'Opus 1' sonatas, including one by 'Roger' and another by John Walsh, were found to be unreliable and contained unauthorized arrangements or spurious works.
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