Samson (HWV 57) is a three-act oratorio by George
Frideric Handel, considered one of his finest dramatic
works. It is usually performed as an oratorio in
concert form, but on occasions has also been staged as
an opera. The well-known arias "Let the bright
Seraphim" (for soprano) and "Total eclipse" (for tenor)
are often performed separately in concert.
Handel began its composition immediately after
completing Messiah on 14 September 1741. It uses a
libretto by Newburgh Hamilton, who ba...(+)
Samson (HWV 57) is a three-act oratorio by George
Frideric Handel, considered one of his finest dramatic
works. It is usually performed as an oratorio in
concert form, but on occasions has also been staged as
an opera. The well-known arias "Let the bright
Seraphim" (for soprano) and "Total eclipse" (for tenor)
are often performed separately in concert.
Handel began its composition immediately after
completing Messiah on 14 September 1741. It uses a
libretto by Newburgh Hamilton, who based it on Milton's
Samson Agonistes, which in turn was based on the figure
Samson in Chapter 16 of the Book of Judges. Handel
completed the first act on 20 September 1741, the
second act on 11 October that year and the whole work
on 29 October. Shortly after that he travelled to
Dublin to put on the premiere of Messiah, returning to
London at the end of August 1742 and thoroughly
revising Samson.
The premiere was given at Covent Garden in London on 18
February 1743, with the incidental organ music probably
the recently-completed concerto in A major (HWV
307).
Although originally written for Chorus (SATB) and
Orchestra, I created this arrangement for Woodwind
Quartet (Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet and Bassoon).
PARTITION