Recorder Sonata in F Major, HWV 369 — Grave

• Play the opening Grave of Handel's F major sonata.
• Negotiate the B-flat in a stepwise context without disrupting the line.
• Maintain solemn pulse without dragging.

About This Piece

Composer: George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)

Difficulty: Early Intermediate

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

Time Signature: 4/4

Key: F Major

Full Movement (Simplified)

Practice Tips

• Tempo: Quarter = 48–52. Slow but moving.
• The B-flat: The cross-fingering wants steady breath. Practise B-flat in isolation before tackling the bar where it lives.
• Phrasing: Two four-bar phrases. Breathe at the end of each, never in the middle.

Practice Exercises

Historical Context

HWV 369 is the F major recorder sonata from Handel's Opus 1 collection. The Grave is one of his shorter slow movements and serves as a transition into the brisk Allegro that follows. F major is one of the alto recorder's most resonant keys; on soprano the piece reads slightly less brightly but sits well.

Performance Goal: A solemn opening that does not drag. The Grave's weight comes from the harmony, not the tempo.

Next Steps

• Try the full sonata's Allegro movement.
• Compare with the HWV 365 Larghetto — both slow movements, different affects.
• Practise the B-flat cross-fingering in every slow movement you play.