Recorder Sonata Op. 1 No. 1 - Complete

Master Barsanti's Italian Baroque style
Execute cantabile Italian melodies
Develop elegant ornamentation style
Perfect complete sonata interpretation

About This Piece

Composer: Francesco Barsanti (1690-1772)

Difficulty: Advanced

Published: London, c. 1724

Style: Italian Baroque with French and English influences

Movements: I. Adagio - II. Allegro - III. Largo - IV. Allegro

I. Adagio - Expressive Opening

Singing Italian style with rich ornamentation. Tempo: ♩ = 52-60

II. Allegro - Lively Dance

Dance-like character with Italian elegance. Tempo: ♩ = 108-120

III. Largo - Deeply Expressive

Profound expressiveness. Tempo: ♩ = 48-54

IV. Allegro - Brilliant Finale

Brilliant finale with Italian flair. Tempo: ♩ = 116-126

Performance Practice

Francesco Barsanti was an Italian composer who settled in London, bringing Italian Baroque style to England. His Op. 1 sonatas demonstrate elegant Italian cantabile combined with cosmopolitan awareness of French and English styles. These sonatas occupy important middle ground between Corelli and Handel - essential for understanding Italian Baroque development.

Performance Goal: Project Italian cantabile and elegance. Barsanti's sonatas demonstrate sophisticated Italian style - they deserve wider recognition. Your performance helps revive this important but underperformed repertoire.