Solomon, oratorio, HWV 67: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Organ Concerto in C major (after Handel's "Saul, HWV 53")
Music for the Royal Fireworks, for orchestra, HWV 351
Saul, King of Israel, suites (3) for organ & orchestra (after Handel's "Saul, HWV 53")
The selections on organist Martin Schmeding's Grand Musical Entertainment: Händel for Organ & Orchestra are not actual transcriptions from the composer's hand, but modern arrangements of pieces that are very much in the spirit of his concert practices. Handel was widely admired for his brilliant organ playing, and his organ concertos were a huge sensation at performances of his oratorios. This recording invites listeners to imagine what Handel's extemporaneous recitals might have been like, whether in the solo organ ...
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The selections on organist Martin Schmeding's Grand Musical Entertainment: Händel for Organ & Orchestra are not actual transcriptions from the composer's hand, but modern arrangements of pieces that are very much in the spirit of his concert practices. Handel was widely admired for his brilliant organ playing, and his organ concertos were a huge sensation at performances of his oratorios. This recording invites listeners to imagine what Handel's extemporaneous recitals might have been like, whether in the solo organ versions of the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba from Solomon and the Music for the Royal Fireworks, or as concertante pieces based on music from the oratorios, as in the Concerto in C major and the three suites from Saul. Schmeding gives lively renditions that paint a vivid portrait of Handel at the keyboard, and the instrumentation of the Münchener Bach-Orchester evokes the rather large ensemble Handel engaged for his oratorios. A curiosity here is the Carillon Suite, adapted from Saul,...
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