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.3913718

ISBN 9790007216122. Language: German.

The cantata cycle Die Tageszeiten, which was composed in Hamburg in 1757, is one of the outstanding late works of Georg Philipp Telemann. A Symphonie and four cantatas (each of which consists of an aria, accompagnato, aria, and chorus) portray, in a richly sensitive manner, the course of a day, beginning with the awakening of nature to the sunset. The poetry of Friedrich Wilhelm Zachariae and Telemann's music herald the beauty of nature, as well as the greatness of God revealed within it. Colorful instrumentation and pictures in sound corresponding to each time of the day, delicate compositional structure, and an ingenious realization of the text characterize this work, whose musical idiom is at times reminiscent of Haydn. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3913700.

SKU: CA.3913707

ISBN 9790007135652. Language: German.

The cantata cycle Die Tageszeiten, which was composed in Hamburg in 1757, is one of the outstanding late works of Georg Philipp Telemann. A Symphonie and four cantatas (each of which consists of an aria, accompagnato, aria, and chorus) portray, in a richly sensitive manner, the course of a day, beginning with the awakening of nature to the sunset. The poetry of Friedrich Wilhelm Zachariae and Telemann's music herald the beauty of nature, as well as the greatness of God revealed within it. Colorful instrumentation and pictures in sound corresponding to each time of the day, delicate compositional structure, and an ingenious realization of the text characterize this work, whose musical idiom is at times reminiscent of Haydn. Score available separately - see item CA.3913700.

SKU: CA.4068249

ISBN 9790007140069. Key: C major. Language: Latin.

Johann Georg Zechner is considered to be one of the most prolific Austrian composers of church music during the time of Maria Theresa. His ca. 250 surviving compositions, including works in practically all genre of church music, found a wide reception in many Austrian, Bohemian and Moravian monasteries and in pilgrimage churches. His Grosse Orgelsolomesse was probably composed in 1761 for the dedication of the organ in the monastery at Gottweig. As in other of his late works, the strict royal style, which essentially characterizes Zechner's compositions, is tempered through the use of elements of the galant style of composition. The organ plays solistically in all of the movements. Score and part available separately - see item CA.4068200.

SKU: CA.4068211

ISBN 9790007220235. Key: C major. Language: Latin.

Johann Georg Zechner is considered to be one of the most prolific Austrian composers of church music during the time of Maria Theresa. His ca. 250 surviving compositions, including works in practically all genre of church music, found a wide reception in many Austrian, Bohemian and Moravian monasteries and in pilgrimage churches. His Grosse Orgelsolomesse was probably composed in 1761 for the dedication of the organ in the monastery at Gottweig. As in other of his late works, the strict royal style, which essentially characterizes Zechner's compositions, is tempered through the use of elements of the galant style of composition. The organ plays solistically in all of the movements. Score and part available separately - see item CA.4068200.

SKU: CA.3115109

ISBN 9790007208615. Key: G major. Language: German/English. Text: Lehms, Georg Christian. Text: Georg Christian Lehms.

Bach's cantata BWV 151, whose wonderfully heartfelt opening aria has been rightly numbered among Bach's most inspired ideas (Alfred Durr), was composed for the 3rd day of Christmas 1725. Flute and oboe d'amore lend pastoral coloring to the chamber music sound picture. The oboe d'amore was not originally included in Bach's score; after completing the score he added the part to the orchestra for the first performance. In a later performance about 1728-1731 Bach replaced the flute by a solo violin, adding various performing instructions and ornaments, of which a flautist can make use in his originally rather modest part. This new edition by Klaus Hofmann replaces the 1962 publication by Diethard Hellmann. Score and parts available separately - see item CA.3115100.

SKU: CA.3115149

ISBN 9790007049430. Key: G major. Language: German/English. Text: Lehms, Georg Christian. Text: Georg Christian Lehms.

Bach's cantata BWV 151, whose wonderfully heartfelt opening aria has been rightly numbered among Bach's most inspired ideas (Alfred Durr), was composed for the 3rd day of Christmas 1725. Flute and oboe d'amore lend pastoral coloring to the chamber music sound picture. The oboe d'amore was not originally included in Bach's score; after completing the score he added the part to the orchestra for the first performance. In a later performance about 1728-1731 Bach replaced the flute by a solo violin, adding various performing instructions and ornaments, of which a flautist can make use in his originally rather modest part. This new edition by Klaus Hofmann replaces the 1962 publication by Diethard Hellmann. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3115100.

SKU: CA.3115111

ISBN 9790007049386. Key: G major. Language: German/English. Text: Lehms, Georg Christian. Text: Georg Christian Lehms.

Bach's cantata BWV 151, whose wonderfully heartfelt opening aria has been rightly numbered among Bach's most inspired ideas (Alfred Durr), was composed for the 3rd day of Christmas 1725. Flute and oboe d'amore lend pastoral coloring to the chamber music sound picture. The oboe d'amore was not originally included in Bach's score; after completing the score he added the part to the orchestra for the first performance. In a later performance about 1728-1731 Bach replaced the flute by a solo violin, adding various performing instructions and ornaments, of which a flautist can make use in his originally rather modest part. This new edition by Klaus Hofmann replaces the 1962 publication by Diethard Hellmann. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3115100.

SKU: CA.4068213

ISBN 9790007220259. Key: C major. Language: Latin.

Johann Georg Zechner is considered to be one of the most prolific Austrian composers of church music during the time of Maria Theresa. His ca. 250 surviving compositions, including works in practically all genre of church music, found a wide reception in many Austrian, Bohemian and Moravian monasteries and in pilgrimage churches. His Grosse Orgelsolomesse was probably composed in 1761 for the dedication of the organ in the monastery at Gottweig. As in other of his late works, the strict royal style, which essentially characterizes Zechner's compositions, is tempered through the use of elements of the galant style of composition. The organ plays solistically in all of the movements. Score and part available separately - see item CA.4068200.