The Flute sonata in E minor (HWV 379) was composed (circa 1727âÂÂ28) by George Frideric Handel for flute and basso continuo. The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 1a, and was first published in 1879 by Chrysander. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,2; and HHA iv/3,2.
The work is the only sonata that survives as a flute sonata in Handel's own manuscript.
Of the two sonatas published in the Chrysander edition as Opus 1 Sonata I, this one (Sonata I<sup>a</sup>) is not in the Walsh edition. Therefore, (although the work's authenticity remains unquestioned), this sonata is not strictly part of Handel's "Opus 1". Chrysander's Sonata I<sup>a</sup> and Sonata I<sup>b</sup> have their first and fourth movements in common.
A typical performance of the work takes about 13 minutes.
The work consists of five movements:
<small>(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 manuscriptâÂÂnot including repeat markings.)</small>