The towering composer who perfected the early symphonic form and invented the modern string quartet also left his indelible mark on the sonata. Joseph Haydn favored a three-movement structure from which he seldom varied, but within this customary pattern, his works display extensive experimentation.

Reprinted from an authoritative Breitkopf & Hrtel edition, this compilation offers a selection of eleven of the master's finest sonatas. Its wide range of styles includes short, simple works dating from early in Haydn's career as well as the more complex thematic developments and variations that followed.Among the highlights are the sublime virtuoso sonatas No. 50 in C Major and No. 52 in E-flat Major, and Sonata No. 40 in G, a superb combination of popular appeal and high art.

Sonata in C Major (H. XVI:3 / WU 14) (c17657)

I: Allegro. II: Andante. III: Menuetto.

Sonata in D Major (H. XVI:19/WU 30) (1767)

I: Moderato. II: Andante. III: Finale. Allegro assai.

Sonata in C Minor (H. XVI:20 / WU 33) (1771)

I: Moderato. II: Andante con moto. III: Finale. Allegro.

Sonata in F Major (H. XVI:23/WU 38) (1773)

I: Allegro moderato. II: Adagio. III: Finale. Presto.

Sonata in B Minor (H. XVI:32 / WU 47) (before 1776)

I: Allegro moderato. II: Menuet. III: Finale. Presto.

Sonata in E Minor (H. XVI:34 / WU 53) (before 1784)

I: Presto. II: Adagio. III: Finale. Molto vivace.

Sonata in G Major (H. XVI:40 / WU 54) (before 1784)

I: Allegretto innocente. II: Presto.

Sonata in C Major (H. XVI:48 / WU 58) (1789)

I: Andante con espressione. II: Rondo. Presto.

Sonata in E-flat Major (H. XVI:49 / WU 59) (1789-90)

I: Allegro non troppo. II: Adagio cantabile. III: Finale: Tempo di Minuet.

Sonata in C Major (H. XVI:50 / WU 60) (c1794-5)

I: Allegro. II: Adagio. Ill: Allegro molto.

Sonata in E-flat Major (H. XVI:52 / WU 62) (1794)

I: Allegro moderato. II: Adagio. III: Finale. Presto.