XV Handel solo sonatas (Chrysander)

XV Handel solo sonatas (Chrysander) refers to a specific edition of solo sonatas by George Frideric Handel. The "XV" indicates that this edition includes fifteen solo sonatas. The parenthetical "(Chrysander)" signifies that the edition was edited or compiled by Friedrich Chrysander, a prominent German music historian and editor. Chrysander is well-known for his extensive and influential edition of Handel's complete works, "Georg Friedrich Händel's Werke: Ausgabe der Händelgesellschaft" (commonly referred to as the Händel-Gesellschaft edition or HG).

These sonatas are generally for a solo instrument (typically either flute, oboe, or violin) and basso continuo (usually played by a cello or bassoon and harpsichord or organ). The sonatas encompass a range of keys and musical styles, reflecting Handel's diverse compositional output.

The Chrysander edition of Handel's works, including these fifteen sonatas, was important for bringing Handel's music to a wider audience and for establishing a canonical repertoire of his works. However, it's important to note that modern Handel scholarship has revealed some inaccuracies and inconsistencies within the Händel-Gesellschaft edition. Therefore, while the Chrysander edition remains historically significant, contemporary performers and scholars often consult more recent urtext editions or scholarly editions that incorporate updated research and source materials. These later editions may offer different interpretations of the original manuscripts and address issues of authenticity and performance practice.