Flute Sonata in E minor (HWV 359b)
# Flute Sonata in E minor (HWV 359b)

The Flute sonata in E minor (HWV 359b) was composed (c. 1724) by George Frideric Handel for flute and basso continuo. The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 1b, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,6; and HHA iv/3,10.

The sonata was originally composed as a violin sonata in D minor (HWV 359a).

Of the two sonatas in the Chrysander edition as Opus 1 Sonata I, this one (Sonata $I^b)$ is the one in the Walsh edition (where it is called Sonata I). Chrysander's Sonata $I^a$ was compiled from manuscript sources. Chrysander's Sonata $I^a$ and Sonata $I^b$ have their first and fourth movements in common.

A typical performance of the work takes about seven minutes.

## Movements

The work consists of four movements:

| Movement | Type | Key signature | Time signature | Bars | Click to Play | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Grave | E minor | $^4$ $_4$ | 20 | Al Goldstein on flute with Martha Goldstein on harpsichord (2:07): | In common with the first movement of the flute sonata in E minor (HWV 379). |
| 2 | Allegro | E minor | $^4$ $_4$ | 43 | Al Goldstein on flute with Martha Goldstein on harpsichord (1:42): | |
| 3 | Adagio | G major | $^3$ $_4$ | 12 | Al Goldstein on flute with Martha Goldstein on harpsichord (0:43): | Concludes on a B major chord. |
| 4 | Allegro | E minor | $^3$ $_8$ | 80 | Al Goldstein on flute with Martha Goldstein on harpsichord (2:15): | Two sections (31 and 49 bars)—each with repeat markings. In common with the fourth movement of the flute sonata in E minor (HWV 379). |

(Movements do not contain repeat markings unless indicated. The number of bars is taken from the Chrysander edition, and is the raw number in the manuscript—not including repeat markings.)

