The Fitzwilliam Sonatas for Flute/Treble Recorder and Basso Continuo, HWV359

These three little sonatas, so called because they were found in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, are arrangements made by Thurston Dart. They are all short, not too difficult and quite delightful. The first sonata in B flat major is full of joy, opening with a lightly stepped Courante, then a vocal Adagio and finishing with a lively Allegro. The D minor second sonata is again in three movements and has a more lyrical poignancy to the writing. The third sonata, also in D minor is a slightly more substantial five movement work with one of the fast movements marked furioso! If you are a Handel fan you will love them and if you're not they will almost certainly convert you!