Georg Friedrich Händel: Air and Finale From The Water Music: Organ: Instrumental

Oratorio in three parts-In quite characteristic fashion for the times Handel’s opera “Alessandro” looks at various episodes in the life and rule of Alexander the Great (356 323 BC). This legendary warrior and military commander conquered large parts of the world before meeting an untimely end at the age of 32. A central conflict in Handel’s opera is Alessandro being in love with two women Lisaura and Rossane who compete for his favour. In addition his claim to be of divine parentage is underlined occasioning him to demand the subservience of his followers which meets with vigorous disapproval.Handel composed “Alessandro” for the Royal Academyof Music to a libretto by Paolo Antonio Rolli in the 1725/26 season. The work was premiered at the King’s Theatre in London on 5 May 1726. “Alessandro” was the first of five operas for the Royal Academy operas which saw Handel compose for three of the most famous singers of his time: Francesco Bernardi (called Senesino) Francesca Cuzzoni and Faustina Bordoni.Ortensio Mauro’s libretto “La superbia d’Alessandro ” which was performed for the first time in Hanover in 1690 in a musical setting by Agostino Steffani and staged again in the city the following year under the title “Il zelo di Leonato” but with numerous alterations served as the source text for Handel’s “Alessandro”. One of the main aspects Rolli had to consider when preparing the libretto for the London performances was to keep the roles of the famous singers of the Royal Academy well balanced yet at the same time to engineer a musical contest between the prima donnas Cuzzoni and Bordoni (Lisaura and Rossane) as well. From a business point of view it made good sense for such rivalry would surely increase public interest in the opera.It is no longer possible to ascertain which changes Handel made during the following performance series of the 1727/28 season. For the performance series of 1732/33 Handel made substantial revisions to the opera: six numbers were deleted in their entirety the finale in part as well and the recitatives were made much shorter with the parts of Cleone and Leonato omitted

Originally written as a concerto for two violins this impressive final movement is string ensemble writing that will give developing groups confidence yet create a very musical performance with its carefully marked dynamics and section contrasts. This is Baroque style teaching material at its very best.

24 Favourite Pieces Arranged For The Moderately Advanced Guitarist. Par COLES PAUL. 'From Folk to Classical 2” is a mouth-watering collection of 24 arrangements for classical guitar by Paul Coles. The classical pieces include many favourites, including a few you would not expect to hear on the guitar, such as 'Habanera” from 'Carmen” and Saint-Saën's famous 'Swan” but they really work! Traditional folk numbers are not neglected, with 'Michael Row the Boat” and 'Londonderry Air” among the best known. The arrangements are for moderately advanced players (UK grade 5-6) and Paul has offered fingering help for both left and right hands. It follows Book 1 (UE 21673) which was published in 2017 (Grades 3-4). Try it, perhaps as a warm up for Book 2 if you don't already know it and then try Paul's '26 Melodic Studies” (UE 21670) or his 'Momentos Españoles” (UE 21671)./ Recueil / Guitare