| Royal Classics |  |
| Disc No: ROY6444 | |
| Price: Sek. 51 |
This cross-section of Handel's 'public' (as opposed to the more intimate sonatas use) music introduces oratorio in the shape of the Overture to Samsom, produced in 1743, together with the hero's desolate aria after being blinded; and a stirring aria from Judas Maccabaeus of 1747. Opera-oratorio is represented by Jupiter's reassuring aria to the heroine in Semele, first given at Covent Garden in 1744, and his music for special occasions in the two suites. In 1717 the Water Music was composed for a royal river party on the Thames. The king and company boarded at Westminster, alighted at Putney for supper, then sailed back in the small hours of the morning. On an attendant barge sat Handel and his orchestra of woodwind, brass and strings. So impressed was the king with the music that he commanded it should be played through three times, and since the whole score comprised some 20 movements it was a feast of music to be enjoyed by many residents of London. Whether that enjoyment persisted for river-side dwellers until 2am the following day is doubtful, but in those days nobody questioned royalty's privileges. Another occasion took place in Green Park in 1749. A huge firework display was arranged, for which Handel provided some of the grandest music to be beard in the 18th century. He called for 24 oboes, 12 bassoons, 9 trumpets, 9 horns and three drummers. Today these gargantuan requirements are suitably modified for concert and home performance, but the gathering-together of most of the musicians of London was necessary if the music were to compete with the fireworks and an excited crowd, and fill the vast area of Green Park. In the event, what filled Green Park was the smell of smoke; the wooden structure supporting the fireworks caught fire! Robert Dearling. Discontinued |
| Name: Handel Water music' Suite | |
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| Order 2 CD In stock |
| Composer | Opus | Produced | Music | Key | Performer |
| Handel, George F. | Samson - Overture | Royal Philharmonic Orchestera - Sir Malcom Sargent | |||
| Handel, George F. | Royal fireworks' Suite | ||||
| Handel, George F. | Water music' Suite | ||||
| Handel, George F. | Judas Maccabaeus - Sound an alarm | Royal Philharmonic Orchestera - Sir Malcom Sargent Richard Lewis, Tenor | |||
| Handel, George F. | Semele - Where're you walk | ||||
| Handel, George F. | Samson - Total Eclipse |