- ^ Hicks, Anthony (2001). "Handel, George Frideric". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Vol. x (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan. p. 801.
The Flute sonata in D major (HWV 378) was composed (?circa 1707) by George Frideric Handel, for flute and basso continuo. The work is also referred to as HHA iv/18,41.
The work was originally attributed to 'Sr Weisse' (?Johann Sigismund Weiss), but is now considered to have been written by Handel.[1] There is no autograph, but the sonata appears in an important manuscript of 18th century solo sonatas in the Brussels Royal Conservatory, and was published in facsimile in 1979.
A typical performance of the work takes about seven minutes.[citation needed]
The work consists of four movements:
| Movement | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adagio | The poetic opening bars are shared with the largo third movement of the flute sonata in E minor (HWV 379), and with a movement from the violin sonata in D major (HWV 371). The continuation here is closer to the violin sonata |
| 2 | Allegro | In a 3 8 spirited tempo. Based on ideas that Handel used in an overture written in Italy and a trio sonata |
| 3 | Adagio | A recitative-like piece |
| 4 | Allegro | Begins similarly to one of Handel's recorder sonata finales. In jig rhythm |