Description
George Frideric Handel is perhaps most recognized today for his masterpieces in the oratorio genre, such as the renowned Messiah. However, he was also a significant and innovative composer of orchestral music. His concertos and suites occupy a crucial place in the evolution of orchestral music and in the refinement of Handel's own compositional style. For instance, in his famous suites, Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks, Handel crafted a distinctive style tailored for outdoor performances, showcasing his talent for creating grand structures and rich harmonies. His orchestral concertos exhibit a remarkable transitional quality, as he adheres to the Baroque framework established by Corelli while simultaneously integrating elements of the emerging symphonic style. Furthermore, in his organ concertos, Handel pioneered a new genre that would be widely embraced by subsequent English composers. The book opens with a chapter discussing the orchestra's development during Handel's era. The following six chapters provide an analysis of significant collections of compositions: the early works, including the overtures to the first six Chandos Anthems; the Opus 3 orchestral concertos, compiled by Handel's publisher to leverage his popularity; the organ concertos; the twelve orchestral concertos of Opus 6, composed within a single month; the concluding orchestral Concerti a due cori; and the Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks. Mann concludes with a comprehensive examination of Handel's compositional methods and a discussion of performance practice issues pertinent to his orchestral works.
