Recordings for Download
G.F.Handel -
Air g moll, HWV 466 DEMO
G.F.Handel - Air g moll, HWV 466
Handel's 'Airs are isolated pieces, without being part of any suite or group of pieces. In general, they are written with contrasting episodes, for key instruments on two keyboards, in which nowadays this situation of contrasts are imitated with the pianos. The taste for pomp that is so common in Handel's work is observed.
The original manuscript had no title and the first editor called it 'Concertino'
G.F.Handel -
Aria 'Lascia Ch'io Pianga'
from Opera Rinaldo HWV 7a DEMO
G.F.Handel - Aria 'Lascia Ch'io Pianga' from Opera Rinaldo HWV 7a
Handel used this melody in other works before the opera Rinaldo, but this aria is associated with this opera
due to the tremendous success of Rinaldo.
In the opera, Almirena begs her captor Argante for freedom and sings
'Let me cry over my cruel fate and whisper for freedom'.
As the music is very beautiful, contradictorily this piece is performed without lyrics very frequently at weddings!
G.F.Handel - Fantasia in C Major, HWV 490 DEMO
G.F.Handel - Fantasia in C Major, HWV 490
A piece structured in the form of a Baroque Sonata, which, in a basic explanation,
consists of two contrasting themes that are exposed and repeated.
G.F.Handel -
Menuet in G minor HWV 434 No.4 DEMO
G.F.Handel - Menuet in G minor HWV 434 No.4
This very intimate piece belongs to a set of contrasting pieces, including a set of variations.
G.F.Handel -
Organ Concerto
in G Major.
HWV 289, Op.4 No.1 4. Finale DEMO
G.F.Handel - Organ Concerto in G Major. HWV 289, Op.4 No.1 - 4. Finale
This version was also arranged by Mr. Walsh and here Handel displays his tremendous keyboard virtuosity.
G.F.Handel -
Organ Concerto 'Hallelujah' in
F Major, BWV 292, Op.4 No.4
G.F.Handel - Organ Concerto 'Hallelujah' in F Major, BWV 292, Op.4 No.4 1. Allegro, 2. Andante, 3.Adagio, 4. 'Choral Hallelujah'. This version of the virtuoso concerto for organ and strings Op.4 No.4 is an arrangement for solo keyboard by Mr. John Walsh, editor of Handel's music. The famous Choral Hallelujah, which gives the concert its name, is used as the theme of the last movement.
G.F.Handel - Passacaglia from Suite in G minor, HWV 432
G.F.Handel - Passacaglia from Suite in G minor, HWV 432 Here we find also a Basso Ostinato with virtuoso variations in the melody. The character is dancing and comes originally form Spain, from 'passacalle', that comes from the verb 'pasar', to pass by walking.
G.F.Handel - Prelude and Allegro in G minor,
HWV 574
G.F.Handel - Prelude and Allegro in G minor, HWV 574
Two pieces that contrast each other forming a solid unit.
A Prelude of transcendent character and a dancing Allegro full of ornaments.
G.F.Handel - Prelude in G Major, HWV 442
G.F.Handel - Prelude in G Major, HWV 442
A little played virtuoso Prelude.
It acts as a preamble to an enormous Chaconne of 62 variations,
whose beginning has in itself the character of a Prelude.
G.F.Handel - Sonatina in A minor, HWV 584
G.F.Handel - Sonatina in A minor. HWV 584
In the form of a baroque sonata (in simple and basic explanation, two contrasting themes exposed and repeated),
Handel achieves a piece of dramatic virtuosity with Spanish and Italian character.