- Master Barsanti's Italian Baroque style
- Execute cantabile Italian melodies
- Develop elegant ornamentation style
- Perfect complete sonata interpretation
About This Piece
Composer: Francesco Barsanti (1690-1772)
Difficulty: Advanced
Published: London, c. 1724
Style: Italian Baroque with French and English influences
Movements: I. Adagio - II. Allegro - III. Largo - IV. Allegro
I. Adagio - Expressive Opening
Singing Italian style with rich ornamentation. Tempo: ♩ = 52-60
II. Allegro - Lively Dance
Dance-like character with Italian elegance. Tempo: ♩ = 108-120
III. Largo - Deeply Expressive
Profound expressiveness. Tempo: ♩ = 48-54
IV. Allegro - Brilliant Finale
Brilliant finale with Italian flair. Tempo: ♩ = 116-126
Performance Practice
Francesco Barsanti was an Italian composer who settled in London, bringing Italian Baroque style to England. His Op. 1 sonatas demonstrate elegant Italian cantabile combined with cosmopolitan awareness of French and English styles. These sonatas occupy important middle ground between Corelli and Handel - essential for understanding Italian Baroque development.