The Complete Sonatas for Treble (Alto) Recorder & Continuo: Recorder Book

These six sonatas anchor an entire recital or provide coherent programming material for a semester's worth of study. Each sonata brings its own character without repetition, and Handel's writing for continuo is transparent enough that student pianists or harpsichordists can develop real stylistic awareness rather than simply accompanying.

Graceful and purposeful. These sonatas blend the lyrical warmth the recorder excels at with clear harmonic direction and moments of genuine contrapuntal interest. You'll encounter passages that sing like operatic arias alongside sections that demand precision and rhythmic vitality.

Intermediate to advanced recorder players ready to engage with substantial Baroque chamber repertoire. This collection serves music teachers building a cohesive curriculum around a single composer and advanced high school or college students preparing for recitals or competitions.

• Shape phrases around the natural breathing points of the recorder; Handel typically honors the instrument's need for air, so don't fight his phrasing architecture by oversustaining notes.
• Work with your continuo player to establish whether you'll play from a score or parts, since some passages benefit from visual contact while others reward independence.
• Tailor your ornamentation to the printed notation and the style of the particular sonata; Baroque practice allows embellishment, but Handel's own notational clarity often means he's written what he wants.

Pair individual sonatas with keyboard works or vocal chamber music from the same period to create thematic concerts exploring Baroque form. The set also works well as a progression through the year, introducing students to different sonata structures and stylistic challenges movement by movement.

• Baroque articulation and ornamentation conventions for treble recorder
• Reading continuo notation and coordinating with keyboard players
• Balancing melodic shape with harmonic awareness across multi-movement forms
• Period-appropriate vibrato and tone color control