Twelve Violin Sonatas, Op. 5 (Corelli)

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.

Cover of the first edition of Twelve Violin Sonatas, Op. 5, by Giovanni Girolamo Frezza

The title in the first edition.^[3] 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.

Peter Welsh arranged the Sonata No. 5 in G minor for Koto and Danso in 2002. The arrangement was performed the same year in Kuala Lumpur with great critical acclaim.

Selected discography

• Andrew Manze (violin) and Richard Egarr (harpsichord) – Harmonia Mundi HMU907298/99
• Lina Tur Bonet [de] (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