Happy birthday, George
February 23, 2022George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) composed the oratorio Solomon in 1748, and the sinfonia that introduces the third act, “The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba,” became one of his greatest hits. Originally scored for oboes and strings, the piece has been adapted to any number of instruments and combinations of instruments, including some instruments that did not exist in the eighteenth century when the piece was composed. Here it is in a version for harp, an instrument that has been with us since Biblical times.
Happy birthday, George
February 23, 2021George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) composed the Music for the Royal Fireworks in 1749 for King George II, to celebrate the signing of the treaty that ended the War of the Austrian Succession. Here is the fourth movement from the suite.
It takes a village
December 23, 2020Of all the many versions of the Hallelujah Chorus with subtitles I’ve seen, this one, performed by residents of Quinhagak, Alaska, is my favorite, the cringe-inducing misplaced apostrophes notwithstanding.
Happy birthday, George
February 23, 2020In honor of the birthday of George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), here is the Sarabande from his Keyboard Suite in D minor, arranged for string quartet.