Handel: Ode for St Cecilia's Day, HWV 76
Expected to ship in about a week.
- Composer: George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
- Piano reduction: Andreas Köhs
- Instrumentation (this edition): Piano Reduction, SATB Choir
- Originally for: SATB Choir, Orchestra
- Work: Ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 76
- Work Language: English
- ISMN:
- Size: 7.5 x 10.6 inches
- Pages: 77
- Urtext / Critical Edition
Description
Following upon "Alexander's Feast" (1736), in 1739 Handel produced a second setting of the "Ode to St Cecilia" ("Song for St Cecilia's Day"). At its première it was combined with "Alexander's Feast". Rather than a dramatic plot presentable in the theatre, the Ode, in its seven sections, offers a general hymn of praise to music and its impact. Accordingly, it largely consists of emotion-laden arias and festive orchestration.
This edition, based on the Urtext from the "Halle Handel Edition", offers the version heard at the first performance – the version preferred in today's concert life. The foreword (Ger/Eng) provides many detailed notes on performance practice with regard to orchestration.
Handel: Ode for St Cecilia's Day, HWV 76
