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).^[1]

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.

^ Hicks, Anthony (2001). "Handel, George Frideric". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Vol. x (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan. p. 802.

[1] Hicks, Anthony (2001). "Handel, George Frideric". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Vol. x (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan. p. 802.

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