Three Trio Sonatas for Two Violins (Flutes) and Basso continuo Op.5 (HWV 397, HWV 398, HWV 401)

Handel Three Trio Sonatas for Two Violins (Flutes) and Basso continuo Op.5 (HWV 397, HWV 398, HWV 401)

The three Trio Sonatas in this edition were taken from the sonata collection published in London by John Walsh in 1739.  Since hardly any chamber music compositions have come down to us from Handel’s later years other than the well-known D major Violin Sonata, these Trio Sonatas can be considered as one of Handel’s last contributions to the field of instrumental chamber music.

The first edition specifies two violins or flutes as melody instruments for the Op.5 Sonatas.  However, since scoring indications, particularly in instrumental chamber music, were taken very liberally at that time, it is also perfectly legitimate to play these works in other instrumental combinations (for example, violin and flute).