George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Kate Molleson shares stories of Handel’s music at summer soirees
across the British Isles


When he arrived in London in 1712, German-born George Frideric
Handel was already one of Europe’s most exciting musical minds.
Over the next decades he would not only carve a living for
himself, but transform British musical life, from the opera stage
to the choir stalls, and hardwire his legacy into our culture.
This week, Kate Molleson tells the stories of five summer soirees
from across his life in the British Isles – golden evenings of
18th-century music making, and some of his most eventful
performances.


Music Featured:


Water Music (Suite 2: i. Allegro) Water Music (Suite 2: ii.
Hornpipe) Water Music (Suite 1: excerpt) Water Music (Suite 3)
Qual nave smarrita (from Radamisto) Water Music (Suite 1:
excerpt) Acis and Galatea (Overture) Chandos Te Deum (excerpt)
Chandos Anthem No 4 ‘O sing unto the Lord a new song’ Acis and
Galatea, Act II: Nos 25-29 Keyboard Suite in E major ‘The
Harmonious Blacksmith’, HWV430 (Air & Variations) Esther, Act
I, Scene 4: Tune your harps to cheerful strains; Praise the Lord
Organ Concerto in B-flat major, Op 4 No 2 Jubilate Deo in D major
‘Utrecht’, HWV279 Athalia, Act II Scene 2: My vengeance awakes me
L’Allegro, il penseroso ed il moderato: As steals the morn
Alexander’s Feast, Part I (excerpt) Messiah, Part 2 (excerpt)
Messiah, Part 3: Amen Hornpipe compos’d for Vauxhall Acis and
Galatea: Hush ye pretty warbling quire Semele: Where’er you walk
Concerto Grosso in F major, Op 3 No 4b Zadok the Priest Music for
the Royal Fireworks (excerpt)


Presented by Kate Molleson Produced by Amelia Parker for BBC
Audio Wales and West


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for George Frideric Handel
(1685-1759) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001q14p


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z