SKU: CA.2103203

ISBN 9790007186142. Language: Latin.

In 1953, with timpani and trumpets a la Marseillaise, a French piece of music once again captured public attention (Eurovision Hymn) and a composer was rediscovered: the first recording of Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Te Deum H 146 was released. The introductory fanfare not only praised God but the Sun King Louis XIV, and it opens one of the greatest works of French Baroque music. Magnificent celebration and ardent pleading, effective choruses, arias and small ensembles, plus instrumental interludes combine to create a harmonious whole, drawing its higher meaning from Charpentier's musical-theological interpretation of the Latin hymn of praise that it is based on. Score available separately - see item CA.2103200.

SKU: BA.BA04025-01

ISBN 9790006443222. 33 x 26 cm inches. Text Language: English.

Handelâ??s â??Semeleâ?, which premiered in February 1744, is based on an adapted version of William Congreveâ??s opera libretto titled â??The Story of Semeleâ?, originally published in 1706. However, neither Handel nor his librettist referred to â??Semeleâ? as an opera or an oratorio, which, according to the understanding at the time, would have required a biblical and/or Christian subject matter. Contemporary audiences also disagreed on the genre. The problematic classification as an oratorio has persisted into the present day, likely due to the edition labeled as such by Chrysander. The â??Halle Handel Editionâ? (HHA) distances itself from this classification and, considering the available sources, refrains from assigning a genre label.

Congreve deviates from the mythological source multiple times in order to create tensions among the characters. The desired marriage between Semele and Athamas, whom she does not love, is an addition by Congreve to provoke the envy of her sister Ino, who desires Athamas herself. Therefore, Ino sees her own advantage in Semeleâ??s abduction by Jupiter. While Jupiterâ??s wife Juno decides to destroy Semele out of jealousy for his relationship with her, Jupiter brings Ino to his palace to console Semele. The vengeful Juno takes advantage of Inoâ??s presence and transforms into her likeness, persuading Semele to carry out a plan that later proves fatal. In the end, Ino emerges as the winner, as she is able to convince their father, Cadmus, to marry her to Athamas. The appearance of Apollo in the final scene to announce that Semeleâ??s immortal son Bacchus was saved from her ashes provides little consolation. However, this twist allows the drama to conclude with exuberant joy and a magnificent final chorus after the tragic scenes in the third act, culminating in the death of the protagonist.

Handelâ??s autograph score shows significant deviations from and numerous revisions of the original version premiered. All surviving early versions, the musical movements deleted before the premiere, and the version of the December 1744, are given in the appendix to the HHA.

SKU: CA.5030519

ISBN 9790007145477. Key: C major. Language: Latin.

The Missa Beatissimae Virginis Maria was composed ca. 1758-1760, between the end of his tenure as a singer in the choir of St. Stephen's in Vienna and the beginning of his first position as violinist and music director for the Bishop of Grosswardein. The scoring of SATB (for soli as well as choir) and church trio was augmented by two trumpets (clarini) and timpani, as well as two trombones. The latter instruments double the alto and tenor voices in tutti passages but in the Et incarnatus est they are also employed in an obbligato role. On the one hand, as an early work this Mass is in the style of the festive baroque tradition, as practiced in south-German regions until the middle of the eighteenth century; on the other hand it already shows the subjective inspiration which distinguished it from many of the mass settings by Haydn's contemporaries. Score and parts available separately - see item CA.5030500.

SKU: CA.3912714

ISBN 9790007215811. Language: German.

Telemann's setting of Psalm 121 I lift up mine eyes to the hills reveals him to be an admirer of French music. Constructed on the example of a grand motet, each of the movements is patterned after the French model: the model of an overture for the first movement, the echoes of a chaconne in the second, the dotted gigue rhythms of the Canarie in the third. In addition there is the lively exchange between choir and solo ensemble, and much more. The music is full of poetic imagery, whenever the occasion arises, as at the very beginning with the words Ich hebe meine Augen auf, or in a later passage with the text Siehe, der Hüter Israel schläft noch schlummert nicht (Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep). Score and part available separately - see item CA.3912700.

SKU: CA.3912713

ISBN 9790007215804. Language: German.

Telemann's setting of Psalm 121 I lift up mine eyes to the hills reveals him to be an admirer of French music. Constructed on the example of a grand motet, each of the movements is patterned after the French model: the model of an overture for the first movement, the echoes of a chaconne in the second, the dotted gigue rhythms of the Canarie in the third. In addition there is the lively exchange between choir and solo ensemble, and much more. The music is full of poetic imagery, whenever the occasion arises, as at the very beginning with the words Ich hebe meine Augen auf, or in a later passage with the text Siehe, der Hüter Israel schläft noch schlummert nicht (Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep). Score and part available separately - see item CA.3912700.