XII Sonatas for Two Violins with a Through Bass for the Harpsichord op.1 - Humphries, John S. c. 1707-1733 (London Walsh, 1728)
Assessed negatively by John Hawkins in his 'History of the Science and Practice of Music' (1776), vol. 5, p. 366: "in the year 1728 he published by subscription twelve Sonatas for two violins and a bass, of a very original cast, in respect that they are in a style somewhat above that of the common popular airs and country-dance tunes, the delight of the vulgar, and greatly beneath what might be expected from the studies of a person at all acquainted with the graces and elegancies of the Italians in their compositions for instruments. To this it must be attributed that the sonatas of Humphries were the common practice of such small proficients in harmony, as in his time were used to recreate themselves with music at alehouse clubs and places of vulgar resort in the village adjacent to London: Of these there were formerly many, in which six-pence at most was the price of admission."
complete set of parts
Albinonis Concertos in Seven Parts op. 2 / Das Band der Religion, der Güte und der Freude / Marche des Mariages Samnites / Text zum Requiem von Mozart und zur Cantate von Bierey / Walze favorite de Mozart no. 9 / Walze favorite pour le piano forte no. 16
N.B. These Sonatas are proper to be play'd with two German Flutes &c.
Keywords: 18th Century (1701-1800); Sonata; Violin; Duet; United Kingdom