Originating in Italy, the trio sonata imposed itself as one of the major musical forms of the 18th century. Having been formalised in sharply contrasting movements by Corelli, it seduced composers who found within it a means to develop their thematic ideas and to free themselves from the framework of the suite of dances in a new aesthetic spirit, that of chamber music. It would normally have been executed by 3 musicians at least, each one playing...