Track Listing

1. Violin Sonata in D major, Op.1/13, HWV 371: Affetuoso
2. Violin Sonata in D major, Op.1/13, HWV 371: Allegro
3. Violin Sonata in D major, Op.1/13, HWV 371: Larghetto
4. Violin Sonata in D major, Op.1/13, HWV 371: Allegro
5. Violin Sonata in F, Op.1/12, HWV 370 (doubtful): Adagio
6. Violin Sonata in F, Op.1/12, HWV 370 (doubtful): Allegro
7. Violin Sonata in F, Op.1/12, HWV 370 (doubtful): Largo
8. Violin Sonata in F, Op.1/12, HWV 370 (doubtful): Allegro
9. Violin (or Oboe) Sonata in D minor, HWV 359a: Grave
10. Violin (or Oboe) Sonata in D minor, HWV 359a: Allegro
11. Violin (or Oboe) Sonata in D minor, HWV 359a: Adagio
12. Violin (or Oboe) Sonata in D minor, HWV 359a: Allegro
13. Violin Sonata in A major, Op.1/3, HWV 361: Andante
14. Violin Sonata in A major, Op.1/3, HWV 361: Allegro
15. Violin Sonata in A major, Op.1/3, HWV 361: Adagio
16. Violin Sonata in A major, Op.1/3, HWV 361: Allegro
17. Violin Sonata in G minor, Op.1/6, HWV 364a: Larghetto
18. Violin Sonata in G minor, Op.1/6, HWV 364a: Allegro
19. Violin Sonata in G minor, Op.1/6, HWV 364a: Adagio
20. Violin Sonata in G minor, Op.1/6, HWV 364a: Allegro
21. Violin Sonata in A major ('Roger'), Op. 1/10 (doubtful): Adagio
22. Violin Sonata in A major ('Roger'), Op. 1/10 (doubtful): Allegro
23. Violin Sonata in A major ('Roger'), Op. 1/10 (doubtful): Largo
24. Violin Sonata in A major ('Roger'), Op. 1/10 (doubtful): Allegro
25. Violin Sonata in E major ('Roger'), Op. 1/12 (doubtful): Adagio
26. Violin Sonata in E major ('Roger'), Op. 1/12 (doubtful): Allegro
27. Violin Sonata in E major ('Roger'), Op. 1/12 (doubtful): Largo
28. Violin Sonata in E major ('Roger'), Op. 1/12 (doubtful): Allegro
29. Violin (or recorder) Sonata in G major, HWV 358: [Allegro]
30. Violin (or recorder) Sonata in G major, HWV 358: [Adagio]
31. Violin (or recorder) Sonata in G major, HWV 358: [Allegro]
32. Andante for violin & continuo in A minor, HWV 412
33. Allegro for violin & continuo in C minor, HWV 408

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39138 in Music
• Released on: 2005-01-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Dimensions: .60 pounds

Customer Reviews

Recommended - With Reservations
Handel's five authenticated violin sonatas are gems of the high baroque violin repertoire; why they have not been more widely recorded is hard to understand. Leave it to baroque violin superstar Andrew Manze to put a complete version before the public. Manze plays the opening slow movements in a rhapsodic, dreamy manner, like improvisations, and lends his accustomed humor and audacity to the fast movements. It is enlightening to learn that the opening of the D major sonata is marked AFFETTUOSO, not MAESTOSO, and I am continually surprised by Manze's use of finger extensions (creeping up to higher positions on the fingerboard) for expressive effect.

Now, recording the "complete" anything can be a questionable enterprise. The violin sonatas for which Handel's authorship is undisputed are five in number. In addition to these, Manze and Egarr have decided to record several spurious works, some of lesser merit; these tend to diminish the effect of the whole and give the impression of having been included simply to justify the title of the CD. (Indeed, Manze fiddles through these selections in an off-hand, careless manner, as if he himself isn't convinced of their worth.) My second contention is with the absence of a cello or other sustaining bass instrument. In his historical note Manze does not provide a serious justification for omitting the cello beyond the fact that it was done in Handel's time. I miss the strength in the bass line that a sustaining instrument can provide, especially in contrapuntal material, but also in the slow movements, where there is a lot of right-hand "doodling" with no firm "bottom".

Are these reservations important enough to dissuade one from buying this disc? Well, consider this: the only other version of these works on baroque violin - by Hiro Kurosaki on Virgin - appears to be no longer available except in used copies; as it happens, that recording also lacks a bass instrument! Manze is always a charismatic performer, and for buyers on a budget who really want this repertoire, this will likely be the disc to choose.

Another Handle on Handel
Alongside the Handel of the oratorios and operas -- the Handel of what George Orwell called the Big Bow Wow -- there was also the composer of "pure" music. The violin sonatas are among the finest of Handel's chamber compositions, elegant, concise, and full of affect.
There are at least three performances of these sonatas available on CD at this time, a bonanza of musical choice. In addition to this performance by Andrew Manze and Richard Egarr, there's another by Hiro Kurosaki and Bill Christie, and yet another by violinist Rachal Barton. Each CD has attractions; you might use the "sample" function of amazon before you choose, for choose you must!
Kurosaki's violin playing is more varied, more imaginative, and (dare I say) more baroque. However, Christie's harpsichord continuo, though utterly authentic, is awfully sparse, hardly a partnership with the violin at all.
Manze plays the four sonatas which he regards as genuine Handel masterworks very masterfully indeed. Manze is not the subtlest of baroque fiddlers; I'd love to hear what Biondi or Holloway would do. Also, he pays scant respect to those other sonatas that he clearly regards as inauthentic Handel. He plays them perfunctorily and with occasional lapses of tuning. Richard Egarr's harpsichord continuo is expressive and solid throughout.
The chief attraction of Rachel Barton's performance is that the continuo is enriched by the cello of JM Rozendaal. Not to denigrate Ms Barton's fiddling! She plays wonderfully, but perhaps less specially than Manze or Kurosaki.
All in all, you can't go wrong with any of the three. Trust your own ears.

Simply astounding
It is not without a sense of awe that I write these words. I believe Mr. Handel himself, had he been alive to hear this recording, would have been thoroughly delighted and not perhaps devoid of a tear or two.

The grace and elegance with which these endearing sonatas are played is simply astounding. Both Manze and Egarr ought to be given knighthoods for this CD. It just has no peers. I find this supremely enjoyable CD to be an absolutely essential part of any serious baroque music fan's collection. The liner notes provide great background information of each of the sonatas, even those of less than certain authenticity, with a meticulousness that could concieveably allow for acceptable academic referencing, which is saying something!

With a careful attention to detail, the performers have given us a brilliant interpretation (I am willing to say the BEST I have ever heard, as obsequious as that may sound), of these works, in what must be considered a benchmark of high standards. Five out of five, for the purchase of the decade.