HANDEL, George Friedrich (1685-1759) (attributed)
Handel. 12 Kassel Sonatas for treble recorder, sonatas 9-12
Bfl-A+Bc
These twelve sonatas are from an anonymous manuscript in the Kassel University Library. The title of the manuscript describes them as viola da gamba sonatas. However, they lie much too high for bass viol, and evidence suggests that they were actually intended for alto recorder. Some of these sonatas have already been published for alto recorder under the designation "Anonymous." With this edition, recorder players for the first time have an edition of all twelve sonatas from this collection.
In the year 2015, by means of handwriting comparisons, the Handelscholar Graham Pont came to the conclusion that the Kassel manuscript was scribed by William Babell, George Frideric Handel's main copyist. Pont is therefore convinced that the sonatas are the work of the young Handel. The music is catchy, varied, dance-like, well-structured, and has a lively bass that corresponds well to the melody part.
In the year 2017 some evidence was discovered that the sonatas are possibly by Johann Jakob Kress.
Editor: Günter and Leonore von Zadow.
Continuo realization: Dankwart von Zadow.
