Great Composers in Words & Music - George Frideric Handel

1 Introduction 00:10

Track: 1
Title: Introduction
Duration: 00:10

2 Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351: I. Overture (excerpt) 01:10

Track: 2
Title: Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351: I. Overture (excerpt)
Duration: 01:10
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Ensemble: Aradia Ensemble
Conductor: Kevin Mallon

3 Tho' no man ever introduced such a number of instruments, yet in his Orchestra not one is found idle or insignificant. 07:58

Track: 3
Title: Tho' no man ever introduced such a number of instruments, yet in his Orchestra not one is found idle or insignificant.
Duration: 07:58

4 Organ Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 4, No. 1, HWV 289: IV. Andante (excerpt) 00:24

Track: 4
Title: Organ Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 4, No. 1, HWV 289: IV. Andante (excerpt)
Duration: 00:24
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: Simon Lindley
Ensemble: Northern Sinfonia
Conductor: Bradley Creswick

5 George Frideric Handel was born on 23rd February 1685 in the central German town of Halle, on the river Saale, roughly 100 miles southwest of Berlin. 04:14

Track: 5
Title: George Frideric Handel was born on 23rd February 1685 in the central German town of Halle, on the river Saale, roughly 100 miles southwest of Berlin.
Duration: 04:14

6 Trio Sonata in G Minor, Op. 2, No. 2, HWV 387: I. Andante (excerpt) 01:01

Track: 6
Title: Trio Sonata in G Minor, Op. 2, No. 2, HWV 387: I. Andante (excerpt)
Duration: 01:01
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Ensemble: The Brook Street Band

7 Handel's university education came to an abrupt end when, in July 1703, he moved from Halle to Hamburg… 04:45

Track: 7
Title: Handel's university education came to an abrupt end when, in July 1703, he moved from Halle to Hamburg…
Duration: 04:45

8 Almira, HWV 1, Act I: Aria: Geloso tormento (Jealous torment) (excerpt) 01:39

Track: 8
Title: Almira, HWV 1, Act I: Aria: Geloso tormento (Jealous torment) (excerpt)
Duration: 01:39
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: Amanda Forsythe
Ensemble: Apollo's Fire
Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

9 As well as Almira, Handel composed three additional operas while resident in Hamburg: the unsuccessful Nero, also based on a Feustking libretto, its music now lost; Florindo and Daphne… 03:21

Track: 9
Title: As well as Almira, Handel composed three additional operas while resident in Hamburg: the unsuccessful Nero, also based on a Feustking libretto, its music now lost; Florindo and Daphne…
Duration: 03:21

10 No se emendará jamás, HWV 140, "Cantata spagnuola" (Spanish Cantata), Aria: No se emendará jamás (My heart will never stop loving you) (excerpt) 00:54

Track: 10
Title: No se emendará jamás, HWV 140, "Cantata spagnuola" (Spanish Cantata), Aria: No se emendará jamás (My heart will never stop loving you) (excerpt)
Duration: 00:54
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: Jennifer Ellis-Kampani, Adam LaMotte, William Skeen, Richard Savino

11 While in Rome Handel had produced music for the highest-ranking nobility, cultivated international visitors and the most important churchmen… 02:20

Track: 11
Title: While in Rome Handel had produced music for the highest-ranking nobility, cultivated international visitors and the most important churchmen…
Duration: 02:20

12 Agrippina, HWV 6, Act II Scene 5: Otton, quai portentoso (Otho, what prodigious) 01:14

Track: 12
Title: Agrippina, HWV 6, Act II Scene 5: Otton, quai portentoso (Otho, what prodigious)
Duration: 01:14
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: Thierry Grégoire
Ensemble: La Grande Écurie et la Chambre du Roy
Conductor: Jean-Claude Malgoire

13 Renowned Handel expert Winton Dean has suggested that Agrippina represents an early pinnacle in the composer's operatic career… 03:40

Track: 13
Title: Renowned Handel expert Winton Dean has suggested that Agrippina represents an early pinnacle in the composer's operatic career…
Duration: 03:40

14 Rinaldo, HWV 7, Act II Scene 4: Lascia ch'io pianga (Let me weep) (excerpt) 01:06

Track: 14
Title: Rinaldo, HWV 7, Act II Scene 4: Lascia ch'io pianga (Let me weep) (excerpt)
Duration: 01:06
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: Susanne Rydén
Ensemble: London Baroque
Conductor: Charles Medlam

15 At this point in his career, it is likely that Handel was aware of the real guarantors of his fame and fortune: his London audience. 02:26

Track: 15
Title: At this point in his career, it is likely that Handel was aware of the real guarantors of his fame and fortune: his London audience.
Duration: 02:26

16 Water Music: Suite No. 2 in D Major, HWV 349: IV. Lentement 01:36

Track: 16
Title: Water Music: Suite No. 2 in D Major, HWV 349: IV. Lentement
Duration: 01:36
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Ensemble: Capella Istropolitana
Conductor: Bohdan Warchal

17 One of the most beloved pieces that Handel composed during these relatively early years in London was his Water Music. 01:33

Track: 17
Title: One of the most beloved pieces that Handel composed during these relatively early years in London was his Water Music.
Duration: 01:33

18 Water Music: Suite No. 2 in D Major, HWV 349: II. Alla Hornpipe (excerpt) 01:08

Track: 18
Title: Water Music: Suite No. 2 in D Major, HWV 349: II. Alla Hornpipe (excerpt)
Duration: 01:08
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Ensemble: Capella Istropolitana
Conductor: Bohdan Warchal

19 One month after the now-infamous barge excursion, Handel became composer-in-residence to James Brydes, Earl of Carnarvon. 01:27

Track: 19
Title: One month after the now-infamous barge excursion, Handel became composer-in-residence to James Brydes, Earl of Carnarvon.
Duration: 01:27

20 Esther, HWV 50a, Act III Scene 1: He comes, he comes to end our woes (1720 version) (excerpt) 01:55

Track: 20
Title: Esther, HWV 50a, Act III Scene 1: He comes, he comes to end our woes (1720 version) (excerpt)
Duration: 01:55
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Ensemble: Dunedin Consort
Conductor: John Butt

21 Handel's Eight Keyboard Suites, bits and pieces of which are also thought to date from Cannons… 01:10

Track: 21
Title: Handel's Eight Keyboard Suites, bits and pieces of which are also thought to date from Cannons…
Duration: 01:10

22 Keyboard Suite No. 1 (Set I) in A Major, HWV 426: I. Prelude (excerpt) 01:20

Track: 22
Title: Keyboard Suite No. 1 (Set I) in A Major, HWV 426: I. Prelude (excerpt)
Duration: 01:20
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: Philip Edward Fisher

23 It has been said that Handel's mixture of styles within the Eight Keyboard Suites - also known as the Suites de pièce - was likely commercially motivated… 02:27

Track: 23
Title: It has been said that Handel's mixture of styles within the Eight Keyboard Suites - also known as the Suites de pièce - was likely commercially motivated…
Duration: 02:27

24 Keyboard Suite No. 2 (Set I) in F Major, HWV 427: III. Adagio 01:40

Track: 24
Title: Keyboard Suite No. 2 (Set I) in F Major, HWV 427: III. Adagio
Duration: 01:40
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: Philip Edward Fisher

25 Despite the popular reception of the Eight Suites, which were reprinted on several occasions during Handel's lifetime not only in England but across northern Europe… 02:59

Track: 25
Title: Despite the popular reception of the Eight Suites, which were reprinted on several occasions during Handel's lifetime not only in England but across northern Europe…
Duration: 02:59

26 Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17, Act I: Aria: Va tacito e nascoto (Silently and slyly) (excerpt) 01:06

Track: 26
Title: Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17, Act I: Aria: Va tacito e nascoto (Silently and slyly) (excerpt)
Duration: 01:06
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: Axel Köhler
Ensemble: Händel Festivalorchester
Conductor: Howard Arman

27 The late 1720s witnessed the dissolution of the Royal Academy of Music, largely owing to disputes between directors and subscribers… 03:59

Track: 27
Title: The late 1720s witnessed the dissolution of the Royal Academy of Music, largely owing to disputes between directors and subscribers…
Duration: 03:59

28 Zadok the Priest, HWV 258: Zadok the Priest 01:54

Track: 28
Title: Zadok the Priest, HWV 258: Zadok the Priest
Duration: 01:54
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Ensemble: Thomas Tallis Chamber Choir, Royal Academy Consort
Conductor: Jeremy Summerly

29 At this point in his career, oratorio was still secondary to opera in Handel's musical ambition. 03:57

Track: 29
Title: At this point in his career, oratorio was still secondary to opera in Handel's musical ambition.
Duration: 03:57

30 Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Hallelujah! (excerpt) 01:43

Track: 30
Title: Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Hallelujah! (excerpt)
Duration: 01:43
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Ensemble: Scholars Baroque Ensemble

31 With Messiah, and, shortly after, with Samson, Handel seems to have realised that the genre of English oratorio was key to his continued success as England's leading composer. 01:09

Track: 31
Title: With Messiah, and, shortly after, with Samson, Handel seems to have realised that the genre of English oratorio was key to his continued success as England's leading composer.
Duration: 01:09

32 Organ Concerto No. 9 in B-Flat Major, Op. 7, No. 3, HWV 308: III. Spiritoso (excerpt) 01:49

Track: 32
Title: Organ Concerto No. 9 in B-Flat Major, Op. 7, No. 3, HWV 308: III. Spiritoso (excerpt)
Duration: 01:49
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: Simon Lindley
Ensemble: Northern Sinfonia
Conductor: Bradley Creswick

33 Despite these benefits, the composer nonetheless seems to have liked making things difficult for himself… 02:56

Track: 33
Title: Despite these benefits, the composer nonetheless seems to have liked making things difficult for himself…
Duration: 02:56

34 Judas Maccabaeus, HWV 63: See here the conqu'ring hero comes! (arr. P. Breiner for orchestra) (excerpt) 01:03

Track: 34
Title: Judas Maccabaeus, HWV 63: See here the conqu'ring hero comes! (arr. P. Breiner for orchestra) (excerpt)
Duration: 01:03
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Ensemble: Capella Istropolitana
Conductor: Richard Edlinger

35 Now a composer of considerable status and national pride, Handel continued his regular composition and performance of oratorios… 03:08

Track: 35
Title: Now a composer of considerable status and national pride, Handel continued his regular composition and performance of oratorios…
Duration: 03:08

36 Recorder Sonata in F Major, Op. 1, No. 11, HWV 369: III. Siciliana (excerpt) 01:21

Track: 36
Title: Recorder Sonata in F Major, Op. 1, No. 11, HWV 369: III. Siciliana (excerpt)
Duration: 01:21
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: László Czidra, Pál Kelemen, Zsuzsa Pertis

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Great Composers in Words & Music - George Frideric Handel

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