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George Frideric Handel

Suite in B-flat major, HWV 434

published 1733

[IMSLP page 1] · [IMSLP page 2]

Total duration: 10'

1. Prélude
1. Prélude (first version)
2. Sonata
2. Allegro (first version)
3. Aria con variazioni
3. Aria con variazioni (first version)
4. Minuet

Recommended editions

Hallische Händel-Ausgabe (Bärenreiter) · IV/5 · BA 4065 · Klavierwerke II / Suites de Pièces pour le Clavecin, Zweite Sammlung von 1733 · ed. Peter Northway/Terence Best [including earlier versions of movs. 2 and 4]
Associated Board · Selected Keyboard Works, Book 1 · ed. Richard Jones [mov. 4]
Associated Board · Selected Keyboard Works, Book 2 · ed. Richard Jones [mov. 3]
Bärenreiter · BA 4221 · Klavierwerke II / Suites de Pièces pour le Clavecin, Zweite Sammlung von 1733 · ed. Peter Northway/Terence Best [including earlier versions of movs. 2 and 4]
Henle · HN 472 · Klaviersuiten und Klavierstücke (London 1733) · ed. Ellwood Derr [including first versions of movs. 1–3]
Wiener Urtext · UT 50120 · Klavierwerke III / Ausgewählte verschiedene Stücke· ed. Peter Williams

1. Prélude

Duration: 2'

Difficulty: 2

Suite in B-flat major, HWV 434; 1. Prélude

1. Prélude (first version)

This movement exists in an earlier version.

Duration: 1'

Difficulty: 2

Suite in B-flat major, HWV 434; 1. Prélude (first version)

2. Sonata

The theme is also used in the aria Blinder Schütz from the opera Almira (HWV 1) and the sinfonia in B-flat major (HWV 339).

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 2

Suite in B-flat major, HWV 434; 2. Sonata

2. Allegro (first version)

This movement also exists in an earlier, fragmentary version.

Duration: 0' 30"

Difficulty: 1.5

Suite in B-flat major, HWV 434; 2. Allegro (first version)

3. Aria con variazioni

The aria is followed by five variations.

Duration: 4' 30"

Difficulty: 2.5

Suite in B-flat major, HWV 434; 3. Aria con variazioni

3. Aria con variazioni (first version)

This movement exists in an earlier version where the aria is followed by six variations, the first five of which correspond to the variations of the final version. In this first version, the first variation exists in two slightly different forms.

Duration: 5'

Difficulty: 2.5

Suite in B-flat major, HWV 434; 3. Aria con variazioni (first version)

4. Minuet

Although this minuet is included in the suite in some contemporary editions, it is not found in any corresponding manuscript sources and consequently might not genuinely belong to the suite. A version of the movement is also used in the sonata in E minor for flute and basso continuo (HWV 375).

Duration: 2'

Difficulty: 1.5

Suite in B-flat major, HWV 434; 4. Minuet