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Georg Friedrich Händel

IPA Paired – Handel wrote music for Chanukah

December 11, 2020 By Nora Miller Rubinoff Leave a Comment

IPA Paired is a happy hour blog series by the IPA Source office staff – business manager Nora and tech manager Eric. While skillful at keeping IPA Source running well, Nora & Eric have no formal music background, unless you consider their time in high school band.

Nora: Happy Chanukah, Eric! Did you know that Händel produced Chanukah music years after writing his famous Messiah?

Eric: Nearly everyone loves the wonderful music of Messiah, and it’s quite popular at this time of year.

Nora: Since it’s Chanukah, I thought a bottle of Schramsburg Mirabelle Brut Rosé would be a lovely celebratory pairing while listening to Händel’s oratorio, Judas Maccabeus (text by Thomas Morrell).

Eric: I just found an article from Colorado Public Radio about Händel’s Judas Maccabeus.

N: It’s interesting that See The Conquering Hero Comes almost didn’t make it into the oratorio. From the article:

The most popular tune from “Judas Maccabaeus” wasn’t originally included. Händel wrote “See the Conquering Hero Comes” for his next oratorio, “Joshua.” The chorus was such a hit, he decided to capitalize on its popularity. He inserted it into “Judas Maccabaeus” — a more successful oratorio — four years later.

“See the Conquering Hero Comes” inspired composers after Händel. The most famous example is Beethoven’s variations on the tune for cello and piano. The melody was also borrowed in modern times to create a Hannukah song called “Hava Narima,” or “Let’s Lift Up.”

E: Composers re-used or recycled music all the time back in Händel’s day, and still do.

N: I have more about recycled music in our next post.

Looking for more set by Georg Friedrich Händel? We have hundreds of texts set by Händel in our collection.

Whether you spell it Chanukah, Hanukkah, Hannukah or any of the 13 other different ways you will see it spelled, we hope you enjoy Händel’s Judas Maccabeus. Cheers and Happy Chanukah from all of us at IPA Source.

 

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: #ipapaired, Georg Friedrich Händel, Händel, Thomas Morrell

Perfect Tenor Recital Selections

November 6, 2018 By Nora Miller Rubinoff Leave a Comment

Voice recitals are part of a voice student’s degree fulfillment requirements. Whether you are preparing for a Junior Recital, Senior Recital, or Graduate Recital, identifying and grouping texts to display your vocal skill is key. Texts may be selected and grouped by language, emotion, or level of difficulty. Texts may also be selected and grouped by composer or as a cycle of work from a single composer.

Although we often see a division in the Lyric Tenor Fach, there are technically only five Fächer for the tenor voice. (Want to learn more about the Fäch System and tenor voice? View our multi-part series on the Fäch System here: https://blog.ipasource.com2017/04/24/the-fach-system-the-tenor-voice/)

Grouped by Aria and Art Song, this post offers texts for a tenor voice performer to consider including in a recital program.

Arias

Deposuit potentes from Magnificat, BWV 243 by Johann Sebastian Bach

Listen to Francisco Araiza:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wel2444olaQ

…

Frohe Hirten, eilt, ach eilet from the Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248 by J.S. Bach

Listen to Fritz Wunderlich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L03yopokHlY

…

Fac me cruce custodiri from Stabat Mater  – Franz Joseph Haydn

Listen to Andrea Semerar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyTSJPTo4AQ

…

Where’Er You Walk from Semele – Georg Friedric Händel

Listen to Richard Lewis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7DXssuBNck

…

Total Eclipse from Samson – Georg Friedric Händel

Listen to Jon Vickers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU4MZxe9beU

…

Jour et nuit je me mets en quatre from Les Contes d’Hoffmann  – Jacques Offenbach

Listen to Francois Testory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FckaKGzUR5Q

…

De’ miei bollenti spiriti…, from La traviata – Guiseppe Verde

Listen to Luciano Pavarotti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpluE_l-aHk

…

Salut! demeure chaste et pure, from Faust – Charles Gounod

Listen to Jonas Kaufmann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8K-gUwc330

Art Songs

Selections from Winterreise  – Franz Schubert

  • Gute Nacht
  • Wasserflut
  • Die Post

Listen to Ian Bostridge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAShNLQzyxI

…

From Airs chantés by Francis Poulenc

  • Air champêtre

Listen to Nicolai Gedda:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPFDatjGMIc

…

Gebet  – Hugo Wolf

Listen to Werner Güra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyiffjMDCwc

…

Lachen und Weinen – Franz Schubert

Listen to Ian Partridge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBfmB9XfL4w

…

Verborgenheit – Hugo Wolf

Listen to Rudolf Schock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTVI6XAe_YU

…

Zueignung – Richard Strauss

Listen to Jonas Kaufmann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Ls0XtqZ-Q

…

Aimons-nous – Camille Saint-Saëns

Listen to Charles Rousselière: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-ZHqkELzNc

Filed Under: Featured, Voice Classification Tagged With: Amy Beach, Benjamin Britten, Camille Saint-Saëns, Charles Gounod, Francis Poulenc, Franz Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, Georg Friedrich Händel, Giulio Caccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Hugo Wolf, Jacques Offenbach, Johann Sebastian Bach, recital, Richard Strauss, Robert Burns, tenor, voice type

Featured composer: Georg Friedrich Händel

March 4, 2018 By Nora Miller Rubinoff 1 Comment

George Frideric Handel by Balthasar DennerGeorg Friedrich Händel (later Anglicized to George Frederick (or Frideric) Handel), born February 23, 1685, was a German (and later British) baroque composer. Händel’s father was a barber and was not keen on his son pursuing music. Some say that Händel had clavichord hidden in the attic of his Halle home where he secretly practiced music. While it is in doubt by some that this is true, Händel somehow must have had access to a musical instrument in order to pursue his interest.

At an early age, Händel had an opportunity to play the organ and be noticed by Duke Johann Adolf I. Soon after, the Duke recommended musical instruction for Händel and the Halle parish church organist Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow became Händel’s first instructor. Some of Händel’s musical characteristics can be traced back to Zachow’s style and preferences.

Honoring his father’s wishes, Händel began the study of law at the University of Halle, but soon dropped out to pursue music as his career. Händel taught private lessons and performed in churches, but his exposure was limited. While he played violin, it was his skill on the organ and harpsichord that provided him opportunities to perform in operas.

In 1705, Händel debuted his first opera composition, Almira. Soon after, he went to Italy, where he composed the operas Rodrigo and Agrippina.

Early works in our collection

From Dixit Dominus, Virgam virtuosi tuae (1707). https://www.ipasource.com/catalog/product/view/id/342/category/593/

From Rodrigo, Allorché sorge astro lucente (1707). https://www.ipasource.com/catalog/product/view/id/508/category/593/

Also from Rodrigo, Con voci care in petto (1707). https://www.ipasource.com/catalog/product/view/id/12131/category/593/

Händel Moves to London

After Händel’s move to London in 1710, he was commissioned by the manager of the King’s Theatre to write the opera Rinaldo which helped Händel gain the significant acclaim that he had for the remainder of his career.

From the opera Rinaldo, composed in 1710 and part of our collection:

  •                Cara sposa
  •                Lascia ch’io pianga
  •                Or la tromba
  •                Sibilar gli angui d’Aletto
  •                Vo’ far guerra

From Amadigi di Gaula, composed in 1715 and part of our collection:

  •                Ah! Spietato
  •                Desterò dall’empia dite
  •                Pena tiranna
  •                Tu mia speranza

Händel at the Royal Academy

In 1724, Händel composed perhaps his most enduring opera Giulio Cesare for the Royal Academy of Music. Find the complete text to all 45 arias at https://www.ipasource.com/composer/h/handel-georg-friedrich-1685-1759.html?search=giulio-cesare#giulio-cesare. Here are a few of the most famous arias from this opera.

Cleopatra (soprano) 

  • Non disperar 
  • Tu la mia stella sei 
  • V’adoro, pupille 
  • Se pietà di me non senti 
  • Piangerò la sorte mia 
  • La giustizia ha già sull’arco 
  • Da tempeste il legno infranto

Giulio Cesare (contralto) 

  • Non è sì vago e bello 
  • Va tacito e nascosto 
  • Al lampo dell’armi 
  • Aure, deh, per pietà

Cornelia (contralto/mezzo-soprano)

  • Priva son d’ogni conforto

Sesto (mezzo-soprano)

  • Svegliatevi nel core
  • Cara speme, questo core
  • L’angue offeso mai riposa
  • L’aure che spira

In 1726, Händel made London his permanent home and became a British citizen.  It was at this time that he also Anglicized his name to George Frederick (or Frideric) Handel.

Händel composed his famous oratorio, Messiah, in 1741. Take a deeper dive into Messiah, including links to 17 texts in our collection as well as listening links, in our blog post here: https://wp.me/p8x5Kd-ce

During a London performance of Messiah, King George II stood during the Hallelujah chorus, which in turn created the tradition of audiences standing when the chorus is sung.

Händel died April 14, 1759, and is buried in Westminster Abbey. View all 385 texts from 47 operas and oratorios and cantatas on IPA Source as set by Georg Friedrich Händel at: https://www.ipasource.com/composer/h/handel-georg-friedrich-1685-1759.html

 

Filed Under: Composers Tagged With: composers, Georg Friedrich Händel, Händel

Perfect for Voice – 17 Texts from Georg Friedrich Händel’s Messiah

March 3, 2018 By Nora Miller Rubinoff Leave a Comment

Messiah-titlepageGeorg Friedrich Händel’s Messiah (HWV 56) is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible, and from the version of the Psalms included with the Book of Common Prayer. Originally intended as thought-provoking inspiration for Lent and Easter, this 259-page score was composed in a mere 3-4 weeks.

During the 1700’s, opera and composers were sometimes the subject of moral outrage and some considered this work, as hard as it is to believe, blasphemous.  Händel chose to premier his work in Dublin near Easter time, on April 13, 1742, in part due to the lukewarm response to the previous years’ works in London and also because he was trying to test the work away from Anglican bishops.

Mozart reorchestrated Messiah in 1789 but remained in awe of the composer. “Händel understands effect better than any of us — when he chooses, he strikes like a thunderbolt… though he often saunters, in the manner of his time, this is always something there,” said Mozart.

Here, with voice type and listening links, are 18 texts on IPA Source from Händel’s oratorio, Messiah.

SOPRANO

Perfect for Soprano: How Beautiful Are the Feet – Their Sound Is Gone Out
Listen to Lynne Dawson: https://youtu.be/IFBEK5Xks6c

Perfect for Soprano: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
Listen to Sylvia McNair: https://youtu.be/Kg7aXEvCeXY

Perfect for Soprano: If God Be for Us, Who Can Be Against Us
Listen to Sarah Brailey: https://youtu.be/a8A5BYyTkxQ

Perfect for Soprano: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion
Listen to Kathleen Battle: https://youtu.be/bByY2_uXblQ

CONTRALTOBLW Handel

Perfect for Contralto: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion
Listen to Carolyn Watkinson: https://youtu.be/BqzO8omYJWg

Perfect for Contralto: Come unto Him, All Ye That Labour
Listen to Lila Deis: https://youtu.be/y1vQ1vL_65A

Perfect for Contralto: He Was Despised and Rejected of Men
Listen to Anne Sofie von Otter: https://youtu.be/pjLaSMf0jjk

Perfect for Contralto: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting
Listen to Delphine Galou: https://youtu.be/23s5ZOS_MAo

TENOR

Perfect for Tenor: Behold, and See if There Be Any Sorrow
Listen to John Mark Ainsley: https://youtu.be/zCmd73MMOZM

Perfect for Tenor: But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul in Hell
Listen to Bogdan Mihai: https://youtu.be/Ba-XN_wGwjk

Perfect for Tenor: Ev’ry valley shall be exaulted
Listen to Nicolai Gedda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3ZaoZPOoD0

Perfect for Tenor: Thou Shalt Break Them
Listen to John Mark Ainsley: https://youtu.be/X92SkGNVSMI

Perfect for Tenor: Unto Which of the Angels
Listen to Markus Brutsche: https://youtu.be/wgYs8v0rCDc

BASS

Perfect for Bass: The People That Walked in Darkness
Listen to Matthew Curran: https://youtu.be/3V_ZZ6ENu-E

Perfect for Bass (or alto): But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming
Listen to Bryn Terfel: https://youtu.be/TCOSulk2v5c

Perfect for Bass: The Trumpet Shall Sound
Listen to Philippe Sly: https://youtu.be/13DpmWPV9IU

Perfect for Bass: Thou Art Gone Up on High
Listen to William Sharp: https://youtu.be/HCrpCQE-y1E

Perfect for Bass: Why Do the Nations So Furiously Rage Together
Listen to Donald Gramm: https://youtu.be/JIcRrLn8OcQ

 

(Sources Wikipedia, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Smithsonian Institution, GFHändel.org)

Filed Under: Composers, Voice Classification Tagged With: bass, Christmas, composers, contralto, Easter, Georg Friedrich Händel, Messiah, mezzo, soprano, tenor, voice classification, voice type

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