The Violin sonata in A major (HWV 361) was composed (circa 1725–26) by George Frideric Handel for violin and keyboard (harpsichord). The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 3, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,12; and HHA iv/4,2.[1]
Both the Walsh edition and the Chrysander edition indicate that the work is for violin, and published it as Sonata III.
The work consists of four movements:
Movement | Type | Key signature | Time signature | Bars | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Andante | A major | 4/4 | 22 | Concludes with a brief adagio and an E major chord. |
2 | Allegro | A major | 4/4 | 52 | Concludes with an A major chord on a perfect cadence. |
3 | Adagio | F sharp minor | 4/4 | 5 | |
4 | Allegro | A major | 12/8 | 36 | Two sections (16 and 20 bars)—each with repeat markings. Second section starts in E major. |
(Movements do not contain repeat markings unless indicated. The number of bars is taken from the Chrysander edition, and is the raw number in the manuscript—not including repeat markings.)