‘Dresden’ Sonata No. 5

This sonata in B flat was only recently identified as the work of Bitti, since its manuscript, in Dresden, lacks the composer’s name. Bitti’s authorship is not in doubt, however, especially as this sonata shares its fourth movement with that of the first of the ‘London’ sonatas. The work mixes ‘church’ and ‘chamber’ elements and has a particularly attractive second movement – an allegro in 6/8 metre with a distinctly ‘popular’ feel.