Best Violin Continuo

Leclair's violin sonata Op. 9 No. 3, by the French composer-violinist known as the founder of the French violin school, blending Italian virtuosic style with French musical aesthetics.

From Corelli's influential Op. 5 collection (Rome, 1700), this sonata da chiesa helped establish the standard four-movement slow-fast-slow-fast structure for the Baroque violin sonata.

Leclair's Op. 5 No. 4 violin sonata in E minor, reflecting the French composer's synthesis of Italian violin technique learned from Somis with the French suite tradition.

From Corelli's landmark Op. 5 sonatas (Rome, 1700), one of twelve works that became the most widely imitated model for violin sonata composition throughout 18th-century Europe.

Veracini's Op. 2 No. 6 violin sonata in D major, by the Florentine virtuoso whose bold and unconventional style earned him positions at courts in Dresden and London.

Part of Tartini's Op. 1 sonatas published in Amsterdam (1734), this G minor work reflects the Italian master's melodic style and technical demands that influenced 18th-century violin playing.

Vivaldi's violin sonata RV 31 in A minor, composed for violin and basso continuo, reflecting the Italian master's idiomatic violin writing developed at Venice's Ospedale della Pietà.

Among the violin sonatas attributed to Handel (published London c. 1730), this D minor work exemplifies the blend of Italian melodic style and English publishing traditions of the era.

Geminiani's Op. 1 No. 1, published in London c. 1716, by the Italian violinist and theorist who studied with Corelli and became one of the most influential musical figures in Georgian England.

Vivaldi's violin sonata in D major, RV 10, one of the Venetian composer's contributions to the sonata da chiesa genre alongside his more famous concerto output.

One of several violin sonatas attributed to Handel and published in London c. 1730 by John Walsh, though scholarly debate continues regarding the extent of Handel's authorship.

Locatelli's Op. 6 No. 7 violin sonata in F minor, by the Italian virtuoso who settled in Amsterdam and pushed violin technique to new extremes, influencing later virtuoso-composers.

Telemann's violin sonata in D minor (TWV 41:d4), showcasing the German composer's galant style that made him one of the most celebrated musicians of 18th-century Europe.

Published in London c. 1730 among sonatas attributed to Handel, this F major work reflects the Italianate style that influenced English chamber music in the early 18th century.

Telemann's violin sonata in A major (TWV 41:A4), from the prolific German composer whose vast output included over 100 sonatas for various instruments during his career.

Vivaldi's early violin sonata in C major, RV 3, reflecting the Venetian composer's developing mastery of idiomatic violin writing during his tenure at the Ospedale della Pietà.

Eccles's violin sonata in G minor, published in Paris c. 1720 by the English composer, remains a staple of the student violin repertoire and exemplifies early 18th-century English chamber music.