The magnificent interweaving of harmonies and dialogue-like Voices in Handel’s For Unto Us A Child Is Born make it a perfect addition to the festive choral repertoire. German-born British Baroque composer George Frideric Handel originally composed this piece in 1741 for the English-language oratorio Messiah which eventually became one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. As the last song of Scene 3 of Part I of the oratorio which addresses Isaiah's specific prophecy about the virgin birth of a Messiah For Unto Us A Child Is Born tells the news of Christmas thebirth of a son in Isaiah’s words as found in the Scripture (Isaiah 9:6). The delicate familiar theme is introduced by the Sopranos and taken up by their counter-voices the Tenors later the same dialog is given over to the Altos and Basses. The tutti culminates in 'Wonderful' 'Counselor' 'The Mighty God' 'The Everlasting Father' and 'The Prince of Peace'.

A Comic Opera. Par BICKERSTAFF ISAAC (Arr. TOMS EDWARD). 'Love in a Village' was first performed on 8 December 1762 at the Covent Garden Theatre (London). It was to become one of the most popular British musical stage works of the century, and by 1791 it had also gained international acclaim. The question of why this pastiche comic opera was able to develop this special attraction can be described in terms of fashion and tradition. By bringing stylistically sophisticated compositions by various well-known composers such as George Frideric Handel, Thomas Augustine Arne und Francesco Geminiani into the traditional 'Ballad Opera', the theatre makers succeeded in renewing traditional ways of producing and performing playhouse entertainment. The music of 'Love in a Village' stems from four sources: Vocal music from the amusement gardens, Italian opera arias from the 1750s and 1760s, theatrical or occasional music and folk melodies. Love in a Village' thus further developed the methods first used by 'Ballad Opera' to create a comic opera from a sentimental plot and pre-existent vocal compositions. The fourth volume in our OPERA series consists of a linen-bound volume and an Edirom file stored on a USB card in credit-card format. The number of simultaneous users of the edition's digital component is unlimited./ Répertoire / Chant et Orchestre

Canadian Brass Concert Band Works – Grade 4An instrumental movement from the 1749 oratorio Solomon by George Frideric Handel this bright and bustling music is a Baroque favorite often played at festiveoccasions. The distinctive Howard Cable brass quintet arrangement on which this concert band arrangement is based has long been in the repertory of the Canadian Brass. The group first recorded it for their RCA releaseFireworks: Baroque Brass Favorites and it was more recently recorded for the CD Amazing Brass. (3:45)