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. The first edition is dedicated to Sophia Charlotte, Electress of Brandenburg. 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.

The title in the first edition. 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.

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.

Selected discography

 * Andrew Manze (violin) and Richard Egarr (harpsichord) – Harmonia Mundi HMU907298/99
 * Lina Tur Bonet (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

Interpretations

 * performed by Aaron McGregor, violin; Alice Allen, cello; David McGuinness, piano