Bitti’s twelve ‘Cambridge’ sonatas, presented to Cardinal Ottoboni, represent the ‘late’, galant Bitti, full of lovingly sculpted ornamental detail for the violin but with the same resourceful harmony and perfectly proportioned forms as before. The twelfth sonata, in four movements, makes a fitting climax to the set. The corrente-like opening Vivace, with delicately traced passage-work, is followed by an Andante distinguished by interesting harmonic turns. An extended gavotte-like theme with two captivating variations forms the third movement, and the piece ends with a giga, a type of movement particularly favoured by this composer.

Music example (pdf)