Handel - The Complete Solo Sonatas for Wind Instruments - Kuijken, Van Heyghen, Ponseele (2015) {2CD Accent Digital Download}

Handel's solo sonatas exist in versions for various wind instruments as well as for violin, in some cases differing in their respective keys and number of movements. Many were reworked in later printed editions so that they would be playable on the transverse flute, an instrument that was becoming ever more popular in England at that time. This release of the complete wind sonatas takes into account the different versions of the pieces. The soloists are proven experts in their field: flutist Barthold Kuijken, recorder player Peter Van Heyghen and oboist Marcel Ponseele.

In the year 1712 Handel permanently settled in England, where he was able to concentrate on his chief passion - opera. His obligation to his patrons, connected with the fact that operas could not be performed the whole year round, ensured that Handel also composed a not inconsiderable number of instrumental works, including solo sonatas for transverse flute, recorder and oboe with basso continuo accompaniment.

It is clear from the autograph manuscripts and early printed editions of these solo sonatas that, in this case as well, Handel made plentiful use of the recycling procedure so typical of him. Many sonatas exist in versions for various wind instruments as well as for violin, which in some cases differ in their respective keys and number of movements. It is also striking that many sonatas were reworked in later printed editions so that they would be playable on the transverse flute, an instrument that was becoming ever more popular in England at that time. The Accent label has now compiled all the solo sonatas for woodwinds on a double CD that also takes the different versions of the pieces into account. The soloists are proven experts in their field.

Personnel:
Barthold Kuijken (transverse flute)
Robert Kohnen (harpsichord)
Wieland Kuijken (viola da gamba)
Peter Van Heyghen (recorder)
Kris Verhelst (harpsichord)
Marcel Ponseele (oboe)
Ewald Demeyere (harpsichord)
Richte Van Der Meer (violoncello)

Works on This Recording
1.
Sonata for Flute and Basso Continuo in E minor, HWV 359b/Op. 1 no 1b by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Robert Kohnen (Harpsichord), Wieland Kuijken ()
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1726-1732; London, England
Date of Recording: 09/1991
Venue: Église St. Apollinaire, Bolland, Belgium
Length: 6 Minutes 32 Secs.
2.
Sonata for Flute and Basso Continuo in G major, HWV 363b/Op. 1 no 5 by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Wieland Kuijken (), Robert Kohnen (Harpsichord)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1726-1732; London, England
Date of Recording: 09/1991
Venue: Église St. Apollinaire, Bolland, Belgium
Length: 7 Minutes 24 Secs.
3.
Sonata for Flute and Basso Continuo in B minor, HWV 367b/Op. 1 no 9 by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Robert Kohnen (Harpsichord), Wieland Kuijken ()
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1726-1732; London, England
Date of Recording: 09/1991
Venue: Église St. Apollinaire, Bolland, Belgium
Length: 13 Minutes 14 Secs.
4.
Sonata for Flute and Basso Continuo in D major, HWV 378 by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Wieland Kuijken (), Robert Kohnen (Harpsichord)
Period: Baroque
Date of Recording: 09/1991
Venue: Église St. Apollinaire, Bolland, Belgium
Length: 5 Minutes 35 Secs.
5.
Sonata for Flute and Basso Continuo in A minor, HWV 374 "Halle" by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Robert Kohnen (Harpsichord), Wieland Kuijken ()
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1730
Date of Recording: 09/1991
Venue: Église St. Apollinaire, Bolland, Belgium
Length: 11 Minutes 28 Secs.
6.
Sonata for Flute and Basso Continuo in E minor, HWV 375 "Halle" by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Wieland Kuijken (), Robert Kohnen (Harpsichord)
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1730
Date of Recording: 09/1991
Venue: Église St. Apollinaire, Bolland, Belgium
Length: 6 Minutes 1 Secs.
7.
Sonata for Flute and Basso Continuo in B minor, HWV 376 "Halle" by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Robert Kohnen (Harpsichord), Wieland Kuijken ()
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1730
Date of Recording: 09/1991
Venue: Église St. Apollinaire, Bolland, Belgium
Length: 6 Minutes 25 Secs.
8.
Sonata for Flute and Basso Continuo in E minor, HWV 379/Op. 1 no 1a by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Robert Kohnen (Harpsichord), Wieland Kuijken ()
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1726-1732; London, England
Date of Recording: 09/1991
Venue: Église St. Apollinaire, Bolland, Belgium
Length: 11 Minutes 19 Secs.
9.
Sonata for Recorder and Basso Continuo in G minor, HWV 360/Op. 1 no 2 by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Kris Verhelst (Harpsichord), Peter Van Heyghen (Recorder)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1726-1732; London, England
Date of Recording: 12/1998
Venue: Church of Saint Thomas Van Kantelberg, M
Length: 6 Minutes 49 Secs.
10.
Sonata for Recorder and Basso Continuo in F major, HWV 369/Op. 1 no 11 by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Kris Verhelst (Harpsichord), Peter Van Heyghen (Recorder)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1726-1732; London, England
Date of Recording: 12/1998
Venue: Church of Saint Thomas Van Kantelberg, M
Length: 5 Minutes 56 Secs.
11.
Recorder Sonata in D minor, Op.1/9a, HWV 367a by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Peter Van Heyghen (Recorder), Kris Verhelst (Harpsichord)
Period: Baroque
Written: 1725-1726
Date of Recording: 12/1998
Venue: Church of Saint Thomas Van Kantelberg, M
Length: 13 Minutes 13 Secs.
12.
Sonata for Recorder and Basso Continuo in B flat major, HWV 377 by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Peter Van Heyghen (Recorder), Kris Verhelst (Harpsichord)
Period: Baroque
Date of Recording: 12/1998
Venue: Church of Saint Thomas Van Kantelberg, M
Length: 5 Minutes 19 Secs.
13.
Sonata for Recorder and Basso Continuo in C major, HWV 365/Op. 1 no 7 by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Peter Van Heyghen (Recorder), Kris Verhelst (Harpsichord)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1726-1732; London, England
Date of Recording: 12/1998
Venue: Church of Saint Thomas Van Kantelberg, M
Length: 10 Minutes 31 Secs.
14.
Sonata for Recorder and Basso Continuo in A minor, HWV 362/Op. 1 no 4 by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Peter Van Heyghen (Recorder), Kris Verhelst (Harpsichord)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1726-1732; London, England
Date of Recording: 12/1998
Venue: Church of Saint Thomas Van Kantelberg, M
Length: 9 Minutes 11 Secs.
15.
Sonata for Oboe and Basso Continuo in C minor, HWV 366/Op. 1 no 8 by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Ewald Demeyere (Harpsichord), Richte Van der Meer (Cello), Marcel Ponseele (Oboe)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1726-1732; London, England
Date of Recording: 02/1999
Venue: Church of Saint Thomas Van Kantelberg, M
Length: 5 Minutes 39 Secs.
16.
Sonata for Oboe and Basso Continuo no 1 in B flat major, HWV 357 by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Richte Van der Meer (Cello), Ewald Demeyere (Harpsichord), Marcel Ponseele (Oboe)
Period: Baroque
Date of Recording: 02/1999
Venue: Church of Saint Thomas Van Kantelberg, M
Length: 6 Minutes 2 Secs.
17.
Oboe Sonata in F major, HWV 363a by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Richte Van der Meer (Cello), Ewald Demeyere (Harpsichord), Marcel Ponseele (Oboe)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1714
Date of Recording: 02/1999
Venue: Church of Saint Thomas Van Kantelberg, M
Length: 6 Minutes 27 Secs.