Twelve Violin Sonatas, Op. 5 (Corelli) Explained

Twelve Violin Sonatas, Op. 5 (Sonate a violino e violone o cimbalo) is a collection of 12 violin sonatas by Arcangelo Corelli, first published on 1 January 1700.^[1] ^[2] The first edition is dedicated to Sophia Charlotte, Electress of Brandenburg.^[3] The first six are sonate da chiesa and the last six are sonate da camera. The last sonata, No. 12, is a set of 23 variations on the theme La Folia.

The title in the first edition. Sonate a violino e violone o cimbalo, calls for a violin, accompanied by a bass violin or harpsichord. The basso continuo part was written in the figured bass notation. There have been different arrangements in performance, ranging from organ, to archlute, to cello.^[4]

Influence

Sir John Barbirolli arranged the Preludio, Allemanda, Gavotte and Giga of No. 10, and Sarabande of No. 7 into an Oboe Concerto, dedicated to his wife, the oboist Evelyn Rothwell.

Selected discography

Andrew Manze (violin) and Richard Egarr (harpsichord) – Harmonia Mundi HMU907298/99
Lina Tur Bonet (violin) and Musica Alchemica – Pan Classics PC10375
Arthur Grumiaux (violin) and Riccardo Castogne (harpsichord) – Philips
Locatelli Trio – Hyperion

Reviews of recordings

BBC Record Review: Review by Anna French on BBC Radio 3, 5 May 2018
Review on recording by Manze and Egarr

External links

- Walsh's Edition (London) on Musopen

Interpretations

performed by Aaron McGregor, violin; Alice Allen, cello; David McGuinness, piano

Notes and References

Book: Phillips. Rick. The Essential Classical Recordings: 100 CDs for Today's Listener. 2012. McClelland & Stewart. 9781551995212. 28 May 2018.
Zaslaw. Neal. Neal Zaslaw. 1996. Ornaments for Corelli's Violin Sonatas, op. 5. Early Music. 24. 1. 95–116. 10.1093/earlyj/XXIV.1.95. 3128452.
Book: Corelli, Arcangelo. Sonate a violino e violone o cimbalo. Gasparo Pietra Santa. 1700. Rome.
Walls. Peter. 1996. Performing Corelli's Violin Sonatas, op. 5. Early Music. 24. 1. 133–142. 10.1093/earlyj/XXIV.1.133. 3128454.