Recorder Sonata in C Major, HWV 365 — Larghetto

• Play a complete Handel slow movement in the home key.
• Sustain a singing line with planned breath points.
• Add one or two restrained ornaments at cadences.

About This Piece

Composer: George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)

Difficulty: Early Intermediate

Notes Used: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C (high), D (high), E (high)

Time Signature: 4/4

Key: C Major

Fingering Review

Full Movement (Simplified)

Practice Tips

• Phrase length: The opening phrase is six bars long. Mark your breath points before practising.
• Tempo: Quarter = 50–56. Slow enough to shape every long note.
• Ornamentation: Add a trill on the penultimate note of the closing cadence. Resist adding more.
• Dynamics: The rise to the high C in bar 1 wants slightly more breath. The descent to E settles.

Practice Exercises

Historical Context

HWV 365 is the C major sonata of Handel's set of recorder sonatas (published in his Opus 1 collection). The Larghetto is the opening movement — less heavy than the G minor's Larghetto, more lyrical, sitting comfortably in the centre of the soprano-recorder register. It is one of the most-played pieces in Handel's recorder output, partly because the key (C major) suits both soprano and alto recorders well.

Performance Goal: Play with a singing line and planned breath. The slow tempo is in service of the line, not an excuse to slow down.

Next Steps

After mastering this movement:

• Try the complete HWV 365 (the library has the full set in book 3).
• Compare with the HWV 360 Larghetto (G minor) — same composer, opposite affect.
• Apply the same breath-planning procedure to any slow movement you know.