Recorder Sonata Op. 1 No. 2 — Allegro
- Play a Barsanti Allegro in F major.
- Sustain even eighth-note motion at moderate tempo.
- Hear the galant style's lighter touch versus high Baroque.
About This Piece
Composer: Francesco Barsanti (1690–1772)
Difficulty: Early Intermediate
Notes Used: D, E, F, G, A, B-flat, C, D (high), E (high)
Time Signature: 4/4
Key: F Major
Full Movement (Simplified)
Barsanti's galant Allegro — lighter, more conversational than the Italian high Baroque. The eighth notes converse rather than declaim.
Practice Tips
- Tempo: Quarter = 100–110. Lighter than Italian Allegro.
- Articulation: Slur pairs of eighths where the contour invites it; tongue separately where the line turns.
- Galant style: Less weight on each note than in Handel. The line should feel like a conversation.
Practice Exercises
Historical Context
Francesco Barsanti's Op. 1 sonatas were published in London in 1724 — a decade after he arrived from Italy. The set blends his Italian musical heritage with the British taste of his adopted home, producing a galant style that points forward toward Classical clarity rather than backward to Baroque density.
Performance Goal: Light, conversational eighth-note motion. The piece should feel chatty rather than weighty.
Next Steps
- Add light ornament — a mordent at the cadence, no more.
- Try other Barsanti movements (Op. 1 No. 3 Adagio in the same chapter).
- Compare with the Telemann TWV 41:F2 Vivace — same galant idiom, German rather than Anglo-Italian.