Handel: The Recorder Sonatas

Featuring

Wiebke Weidanz
Stefan Temmingh
George Frideric Handel
Anonymous
Henry Purcell

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Composition History

George Frideric Handel wrote his recorder sonatas for the harpsichord lessons of Princess Anne, who was known to be a very skilled player.

Compositional Technique

Handel's six sonatas exhibit cosmopolitan characteristics, blending German, Italian, and English influences.

Compositional Technique

The harpsichord part in Handel's recorder sonatas is unusually virtuosic and opulent, making it an equal counterpart to the recorder rather than a mere accompaniment.

Recording & Production

The recording process for this album involved a high degree of spontaneity, with the musicians improvising ornaments and making real-time decisions during the sessions.

Interpretation

The performers on this album chose to record Handel's recorder sonatas with only a recorder and harpsichord, allowing for greater freedom and direct interaction between the two musicians.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Handel's recorder sonatas are characterized by a vocal upper voice, similar to his operas, featuring captivating melodies that do not demand extreme virtuosity from the recorder.