Henricus Albicastro (pseudonym of Johann Heinrich Weissenburg, c.1660–1730), one of the most enigmatic yet musically capable violinist-composers of his era, succeeded in marrying the polyphonic art of the south German violin school with the melodic and structural innovations of the Italians. This unusually elaborate sonata, consisting of seven movements (or sections), survives uniquely in Leuven (Louvain), Belgium, where it forms part of the Di Martinelli family archive. Features such as ‘solo’ sections involving rapid figuration over a slowly moving bass (II and V), and the reappearance of two portions in a transformed state (II/V and III/VII), are somewhat old-fashioned for a composer of Albicastro’s generation. The third and last movements are notable for their complex double-stopping.

 Music example (pdf)