Gaviniés: Six Sonatas for Two Violins, Op. 5

The Six Sonatas for Two Violins, op. 5, by Pierre Gaviniés, are notable examples of a genre that was utilized in France by violinist-composers, both native and foreign, from the beginning of the second quarter of the eighteenth century. Like his Sonatas for Violin and Basso Continuo, op. 1 (vol. 43 in this series), these sonatas feature elements of both late-baroque and high classical musical styles. Each of the sonatas contains three movements that show traits of the Classical sonata-allegro form. These sonatas, titled duetti in the separate violin parts, give equal treatment to both violins.