Emmanuele Barbella (1718-1777), was a Neapolitan violinist who wrote music for various string combinations, mainly duets or solos with basso continuo. Amongst these compositions are a few written for one or two mandolins and basso. The inter-changeability between violin and the newly developed four-course mandolin in the mid of 18th century Naples, tuned as a violin, makes it difficult sometimes to decide for which of the two instruments a composition was intended, if that indeed was at all a consideration by the composer, because in most instances they intended their sonatas and other compositions to be interchangeable rather than strictly defined, with commercial considerations in mind and appealing to as many instrumentalists as possible. Having clarified this, the music is always appealing and enjoyable irrespective of what instruments are employed. And the following sonata, which is known to be for two mandolins originally, is a charming one of these compositions by Barbella.

Metronome marks are editorial suggestions. MP3 of the complete sonata has been extracted using the Note Performer sound engine. Score and parts are given as undecorated pages and also the score is given as decorated pages in a third section of this document. Blank pages have been provided for correct arrangement of left-right hand placement in a printed score.