Catalogue

Summary:

The Brook Street Band’s passion for the music of George Frideric Handel shines through on this recording of the nine Violin Sonatas by – or attributed to – the Baroque composer. The ensemble’s 10th release for AVIE compliments its critically acclaimed and award-winning discography of a wide variety of Handel’s chamber music and vocal works. Combining consummate artistry with characteristic inquisitiveness, The Brook Street Band – posing the question ‘how many violin sonatas did Handel actually compose?’ – offers nine works composed over a span of 40 years, from the German-born Handel’s early years honing his style in Italy to his later years as a leading light in London. He composed some and his name has been variously ascribed by others, depending on which publisher was cashing in, perhaps in cahoots with the commerically-minded composer. But who really knows and one could ask who cares, especially with music of such colour performed with such panache.

Tracklist:

GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL (1685–1759)

Violin Sonata in G Major, HWV 358
1. I. [Allegro] (1.57)
2. II. [Adagio] (0.49)
3. III. [Allegro] (2.35)

Violin Sonata in D Minor, HWV 359a
4. I. Grave (2.32)
5. II. Allegro (1.43)
6. III. Adagio (0.51)
7. IV. Allegro (2.35)

Violin Sonata in A Major, HWV 361
8. I. Andante (2.26)
9. II. Allegro (1.54)
10. III. Adagio (0.50)
11. IV. Allegro (2.43)

Violin Sonata in G Minor, HWV 364a
12. I. Larghetto (1.56)
13. II. Allegro (1.44)
14. III. Adagio (0.41)
15. IV. Allegro (2.14)

Violin Sonata in A Major, HWV 372
16. I. Adagio (1.15)
17. II. Allegro (2.24)
18. III. Largo (1.14)
19. IV. Allegro (2.57)

Violin Sonata in E Major, HWV 373
20. I. Adagio (1.54)
21. II. Allegro (2.53)
22. III. Largo (1.35)
23. IV. Allegro (2.47)

Violin Sonata in G Minor, HWV 368
24. I. Andante (2.19)
25. II. Allegro (2.49)
26. III. Adagio (2.01)
27. IV. [Allegro moderato] (2.32)

Violin Sonata in F Major, HWV 370
28. I. Adagio (3.12)
29. II. Allegro (2.13)
30. III. Largo (3.19)
31. IV. Allegro (3.53)

Violin Sonata in D Major, HWV 371
32. I. Affettuoso (3.11)
33. II. Allegro (2.57)
34. III. Larghetto (2.46)
35. IV. Allegro (3.55)

Total duration: 80.00

The Brook Street Band
Rachel Harris baroque violin
Tatty Theo baroque cello · Carolyn Gibley harpsichord

Recorded 23–26 January 2018, The Great Barn, Oxnead Hall, Norfolk
Producer, balance engineer and editing: Simon Fox-Gál