Charles Mokotoff and the NIH Philharmonic perform the Handel Harp Concerto arranged for guitar and strings live in concert on Oct. 11 2008. Originally in B-flat Major, this version was transposed to A Major
Concerto in B-flat Major George Frideric Handel
The Concerto in B-flat Major is an unusual work in Handel's
output, namely, because it is Handel's only concerto for the harp; furthermore,
because the harp was a rare choice for the solo instrument of a Baroque
concerto. It was completed in early 1736 and premiered on a musical tour de force program at King's Theater in
London which included the Ode to St.
Cecilia's Day, the "Alexander Feast" Concerto Grosso, and the Organ
Concerto in G minor, op. 4 no. 1. Handel later reworked the Concerto for organ
and published it as the sixth and last concerto of the opus 4 collection.
As with any Baroque concerto, the Concerto for Harp in
B-flat major has three movements. The orchestra is drastically reduced—the bass
parts are pizzicato throughout, the violins are muted and only the soft and
gentle flutes represent the wind family. This orchestration allows for the
soft-spoken harp to easily come to the fore of the ensemble. The first movement
gives special prominence to the harp. Extended tutti sections occur only at the opening of the movement and then
again at its close. Otherwise, the orchestra enters only briefly to give extra
support to two important cadential sections. The first movement lacks the
virtuosic flash that would otherwise be expected of a concerto's first
movement. Though sixteenth-note passages abound, most are actually quite simple
and constructed from melodic figures that lie easily in the hand. The G minor Largettho that follows is likewise
largely focused on the solo lines of the harp, with the orchestra taking a
slightly more active role in accompanying the soloist. The last movement, in a
lilting 3/8 meter and prominent eighth-quarter rhythm, brings the concerto to
energetic and joyous close. Joseph DuBose
Classical Music | Guitar Music
George Frideric Handel
Concerto in B-flat Major for Guitar and Strings Play
Recorded on 10/11/2008, uploaded on 06/03/2009
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Charles Mokotoff and the NIH Philharmonic perform the Handel Harp Concerto arranged for guitar and strings live in concert on Oct. 11 2008. Originally in B-flat Major, this version was transposed to A Major
Concerto in B-flat Major George Frideric Handel
The Concerto in B-flat Major is an unusual work in Handel's output, namely, because it is Handel's only concerto for the harp; furthermore, because the harp was a rare choice for the solo instrument of a Baroque concerto. It was completed in early 1736 and premiered on a musical tour de force program at King's Theater in London which included the Ode to St. Cecilia's Day, the "Alexander Feast" Concerto Grosso, and the Organ Concerto in G minor, op. 4 no. 1. Handel later reworked the Concerto for organ and published it as the sixth and last concerto of the opus 4 collection.
As with any Baroque concerto, the Concerto for Harp in B-flat major has three movements. The orchestra is drastically reduced—the bass parts are pizzicato throughout, the violins are muted and only the soft and gentle flutes represent the wind family. This orchestration allows for the soft-spoken harp to easily come to the fore of the ensemble. The first movement gives special prominence to the harp. Extended tutti sections occur only at the opening of the movement and then again at its close. Otherwise, the orchestra enters only briefly to give extra support to two important cadential sections. The first movement lacks the virtuosic flash that would otherwise be expected of a concerto's first movement. Though sixteenth-note passages abound, most are actually quite simple and constructed from melodic figures that lie easily in the hand. The G minor Largettho that follows is likewise largely focused on the solo lines of the harp, with the orchestra taking a slightly more active role in accompanying the soloist. The last movement, in a lilting 3/8 meter and prominent eighth-quarter rhythm, brings the concerto to energetic and joyous close. Joseph DuBose
More music by George Frideric Handel
Concerto Grosso Op.6 no. 10 in d minor, Allegro Moderato
Concerto Grosso Op.6 no. 10 in d minor HWV 328
Sonata in G minor
Sonata opus 1 no.12 Adagio
Chaconne in G Major, G 229
Lucrezia, a cantata
Presto
Concerto Grosso in a minor
La Resurrezione, excerpts
Arm, Arm Ye Brave
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