George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Complete Violin Sonatas
Bojan Čičić (baroque violin)
Steven Devine (harpsichord)
rec. 2023, St Martin’s Church, East Woodhay, UK
Delphian DCD34304 [66]

For a composer celebrated for his large scale works for the stage – notably his remarkable operas and grand oratorios – Handel was equally adept with the miniature form. His violin sonatas are undoubtedly chamber music masterpieces although it’s baffling why they aren’t performed more often.                                                                                                   

Both performers, Croatian Bojan Čičić and English Steven Devine, are early music specialists who combine their music careers as soloists with directing and conducting. Čičić is playing a baroque violin with a rich timbre by Giovanni Grancino (Milan 1703) who is acknowledged as one of the great Milanese luthiers of his day. A renowned period keyboard player, Devine is using an impressive sounding two-manual harpsichord by Jacobus Kirckman (London, 1756), which is part of the Richard Burnett collection now held at Waterdown House, Tunbridge Wells. Devine first encountered the Kirckman instrument in his youth and has since used it for recordings. His preference for it is understandable, given its glorious, warm sonority. 

Acclaimed as a performer on the organ and the harpsicord, Handel was also a trained violinist, so it comes as no surprise, he wrote several works featuring the violin, although it is not possible to authenticate exactly how many sonatas he wrote, owing to the shortage of autograph manuscripts. Some of these works might be intended for other solo instruments, and the basso continuo accompaniment isn’t always specified. 

Of the seven violin sonatas included on this album, only five are thought to be genuinely by Handel. They spanning a forty-year period: the oldest here is in G major, HWV 358 a three-movement work from around 1709 during time spent in Italy. From Handel’s mature period are three four-movement sonatas from the 1720s: D minor, HWV 359a, A major, HWV 361 and G minor, HWV 364a. From the last decade of his life and the most acclaimed, is the sonata in D major, HWV 371, written circa 1749-50 while Handel was in England.

Contained here, too, are the pair of sonatas in A major, HWV 372 and E major, HWV 373. Published in 1730 by John Walsh of London, both are attractive works yet are of doubtful authorship. Also included in the programme are five single movement pieces: Allegro in G major, HWV 408; Allegro in C minor, HWV 408; Sonatina from ‘Il trionfo del Tempo’, HWV 46b; Andante in A minor, HWV 412 and Fantasia in A major, HWV 406. These single pieces might be movements that have been discarded or missing sections of larger works.  Whatever their purpose, they are appealing pieces of real interest that merit inclusion, as they are adeptly written and absorbing.

The partnership of Čičić and Devine is hard to fault; each complements the other. Their playing is assured, clean and crisply articulated; their unity and timing serve to present these works at their best. Čičić eschews ostentation and his elegant, judicious use of ornamentation is very much to my taste. The sound is well balanced and crystal-clear. Handel specialist Professor Donald Burrows is the author of the first-rate booklet essay.

The main competition to Čičić and Devine comes from the Brook Street Band’s 2018 exceptional recording for violin and a basso continuo of baroque cello and harpsichord on Avie (review). On balance, it’s tough to choose between the two recordings; nevertheless, the level of accomplishment that Čičić and Devine demonstrate is my deciding factor.

Michael Cookson

Previous review: Stephen Greenbank (June 2024)

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Contents
Violin Sonata in D major, HWV371
Violin Sonata in G major, HWV358
Violin Sonata in D minor, HWV359a
Violin Sonata in G minor, HWV364a
Violin Sonata in A major, HWV372
Violin Sonata in E major, HWV373
Violin Sonata in A major, op.1 no.3 HWV361
Allegro in G major for violin and continuo, HWV407
Allegro in C minor for violin and continuo, HWV408
Sonatina from Il trionfo del Tempo, HWV46b
Andante in A minor, HWV412
Fantasia in A major, HWV406