Flute sonata in E minor (HWV 375)


The Flute sonata in E minor is thought to have been composed by George Frideric Handel, for flute and keyboard. The date of composition of the work is unknown, but it was first published in 1730. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xlviii, 134; and HHA iv/3,63.
The authenticity of the sonata as such is uncertain, though three of the movements were certainly composed by Handel, but for other instruments. It is referred to as "Halle Sonata No. 2", following Chrysander's assumption that it was an early work, composed during Handel's boyhood in Halle, before 1703. This cannot be true for this particular sonata, however, because the first two movements are a transposition into E minor of the corresponding movements of the final version of the much-revised Sonata for oboe in C minor, HWV 366, which dates from 1711–12. The fourth movement, also, was originally a minuet in G minor for harpsichord, later printed in 1733, while the third movement is a Grave whose attribution to Handel is very doubtful. The Chrysander edition indicates that the work is for flute, and published it as Sonata XVII.
A typical performance of the work takes almost seven minutes.

Movements

The work consists of four movements:
MovementTypeKey signatureTime signatureBarsNotes
1AdagioE minor18Ends on a B major chord. Taken from the oboe sonata in C minor. Contains dipping lines and artful modulations.
2AllegroE minor45Taken from the oboe sonata in C minor. The main theme, initially treated with strict canonic imitation in the continuo, is chromatic and full of awkward intervals. Contains semiquaver passagework.
3GraveE minor27A brief movement containing a broad sweeping elaboration of the melodic line.
4MinuetE minor36Two sections —each with repeat markings. Also used as the fourth movement of the keyboard suite HWV 434. Has strong echoes in the minuet of the G major section of the Water Music.