The use of the term "sonatinas" suggests often that the pieces are somehow "easy" simple mini-sonatas. There's a truth to this however it's a mistake to consider them "simple" when it comes to playing them. Sonatinas were apparently "popular" in the classical era and some still believe it's an archaic form similar to the 4 movement sonata form however, it's tiny... A sonata on diet!
It certainly has the sonata form with often an intro, an exposition, a development, a recapitulation and a coda. This varies between the pieces of course! What is not totally known is the fact that modern composers used the sonatina form: Martinu, Husa, Stockhausen, etc.
Tonight I had a coaching session on Telemann Sonatinas. I agree they are simpler than his sonatas, shorter, less challenging technically... However, they have their own mini challenges. If you're not sharp on intonation, anyone is able to notice you're off track. Another aspect of Baroque music is the interpretation; you really must do something with this music. After you're solid on playing the notes, you better work on ornamentation! If not, the music becomes dull very quickly.
These 6 sonatinas are also a good intro to baroque music in a way and should be studied before moving to something more elaborate like Vivaldi's 12 sonatas or the concertos for that matter. An edition I DO NOT RECOMMEND is the G. Schirmer edited by Rok Klopcic. The fingering is a complete disaster, even the slurs and bow strokes don't make total sense and need to be re-written.
I'm not a big fan of Telemann even though I consider that I've played his music very often in chamber music or solo pieces. I still like some of his violin concertos and his Canonic Sonatas for two violins or Methodical Sonatas for violin are fun to play. These pieces help putting things back in order in a way and can be worked as studies to refine the intonation or apply other techniques like the vibrato in the slow movements.
