| Physical medium | 4 3/4 in. |
| Series |
Unlocking the masters series ; no. 30
Unlocking the masters series ; no. 30. ^A590063
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| Contents |
Introduction. Listening to the mysterious Mr. Handel -- The curse of The Harmonious Blacksmith: (too?) popular favorites. The Harmonious Blacksmith (1720) ; Largo from Xerxes (Serse) (1738) ; Water Music (1717) and Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749) ; Zadok the Priest (1727) ; Messiah (1741) -- It's Saul good: exploring the English oratorios and associated instrumental works. Blood and guts ; The Waratorios ; Pastoral fantasies ; Choral characterization ; Two English operas ; The New Testament ; What to do during intermission (concertos and orchestral music) -- A pair of Acis: same story, different music. Aci, Galatea e Polifemo (serenata or dramatic cantata), 1708 ; Acis and Galatea (variously called a masque, serenata, oratorio, pastoral opera, little opera, etc), 1718 -- Sex and drugs and da capo arias: the operas. The Handel opera reviva l: how it really happened ; Ariodante: Handel's operatic paradigm ; A dozen great Handel operas (excluding Ariodante) ; Aria recitals and collections -- Channeling Cleopatra: musical characterization -- A lotta cantatas and serenatas: early italian pieces, sacred music, and English ceremonial works. Early Italian instrumental cantatas and serenatas ; Sacred music ; Ceremonial music -- Secondhand Handel: borrowing and musical morality. |
| Contents |
CD track listing. Eternal source of light divine (Ode for the birthday of Queen Anne / Andreas Scholl, countertenor ; Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin ; Marcus Creed, conductor -- Dominus a dextris tuis (Dixit dominus) / soloists ; Vocalconsort Berlin ; Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin ; Marcus Creed, conductor -- Disserratevi, o porte d'Averno (La resurrezione) / Lucy Crowe, soprano ; The English Concert ; Harry Bicket, conductor -- Ogni Vento (Agrippina) / Lorraine Hunt, mezzo-soprano ; Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra ; Nicholas McGegan, conductor -- Ombra mai fù (Serse) / Andreas Scholl, countertenor ; Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin -- Se tanto piace al cor (Ariodante) / Lisa Saffer, soprano ; Freiburger Barockorchester ; Nicholas McGegan, conductor -- Concerto grosso op. 6, no.1 / The Academy of Ancient Music ; Andrew Manze, conductor -- Fammi combattere (Orlando) / Bejun Mehta, countertenor ; Freiburger Barockorchester ; René Jacobs, conductor -- Symphony, recitative, and chorus : Welcome, welcome, mighty king (Saul) / Rosemary Joshua, soprano ; RIAS Kammerchor ; Concerto Köln ; René Jacobs, conductor -- Lascia ch'io pianga (Rinaldo) / Miah Persson, soprano ; Freiburger Barockorchester ; René Jacobs, conductor -- Sibilar l'angue d'Aletto (Aci, Galatea e Polifemo) / David Thomas, bass ; London Baroque ; Charles Medlam, conductor -- Se pietà di me non senti (Giulio Cesare) / Lisa Saffer, soprano ; Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra ; Nicholas McGegan, conductor -- Da tempeste il legno infranto (Giulio Cesare) / Lisa Saffer, soprano ; Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra ; Nicholas McGegan, conductor -- Rejoice, O Judah! Hallelujah! Amen (Judas Maccabaeus) / David Thomas, bass ; U.C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus ; Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra ; Nicholas McGegan, condcutor. |
| Abstract |
Of all the biggest-name composers, Handel probably wrote the most truly great music that no one knows about. This book takes the curious listener through his entire output, from his earliest works in Italy, through his more than 40 operas, and including the famous English oratorios on which his reputation largely rests. Along the way it examines his orchestral music, the pieces he wrote for England's lavish royal ceremonies, and his surprisingly limited production of sacred music. Just as important, the book surveys and recommends recordings of all of the music discusses, so that listeners can acquire a music collection of whatever depth suits them best, while the included CD features top-notch recordings from the [PIAS] label of a wide range of Handel's music in all of the major media in which he worked, both vocal and instrumental. Few composers cared more than Handel about pleasing his listeners and creating a body of work that was both entertaining and fun. It's time to blow away the Victorian cobwebs that have dogged his reputation, and discover just how much there is to enjoy. |
| Local note | JOYNER MUSIC LIBRARY BOOK ACCOMPANIED BY SOUND RECORDING LOCATED AT CALL NUMBER : MusicLib CD-29661. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages [185]-186). |
| LCCN | 2017019206 |
| ISBN | 9781574674873 (pbk.) |
| ISBN | 1574674870 (pbk.) |
