The Cambridge Companion to Handel

Handel is recognised as one of the principal creative figures in Baroque music. In this Companion acknowledged experts on Handel make their expertise accessible to the interested general reader and music lover. All the genres in which Handel composed are considered including oratorio, chamber cantata, opera, and church music, as well as works for the keyboard and orchestra. The wide-ranging, specially-commissioned essays cover topics from Handel?s composing methods to his treatment of the Italian language and matters of performance practice. The background to Handel?s musical career is a major theme of the volume. The opening chapters deal with his musical education in Germany and the circumstances in Italy during his time there. Most of Handel?s career was based in London and important topics here include contemporary concert life and theatre management, the British and Italian musicians among whom he worked, and the librettists for the English oratorios.
- Provides an accessible overview of the music and life of Handel
- Covers all the major works and the minor repertoire as well
- Contains informative illustrations and a full chronology of Handel and his time
- Provides an accessible overview of the music and life of Handel
- Handel is very popular with amateurs and music lovers
- Many choral groups perform the Messiah over the Christmas period

CONTENIDO

List of plates
Notes on contributors
Preface
Chronology

Introduction, Donald Burrows

Part I. Background:
1. Germany - education and apprenticeship, John Butt
2. Italy - political and musical contexts, Carlo Vitali
3. Handel?s London - political, social and intellectual contexts, William Weber
4. Handel?s London - the theatres, Judith Milhous and Robert D. Hume
5. Handel?s London - British musicians and London concert life, H. Diack Johnstone
6. Handel?s London - Italian musicians and librettists, Lowell Lindgren
7. Handel?s London - Handel?s English librettists, Ruth Smith

Part II. The Music:
8. Handel and the aria, C. Steven LaRue
9. Handel?s compositional process, David Ross Hurley
10. Handel and the idea of an oratorio, Anthony Hicks
11. Handel?s sacred music, Graydon Beeks
12. Handel?s chamber music, Malcolm Boyd
13. Handel as a concerto composer, Donald Burrows
14. Handel and the keyboard, Terence Best

Part III. The Music in Performance:
15. Handel and the Italian language, Terence Best
16. Handel and the orchestra, Mark W. Stahura
17. Production style in Handel?s operas, Winton Dean
18. Handel?s oratorio performances, Donald Burrows

Bibliographical note
Notes
List of Handel's works
Index.


Contributors: Donald Burrows, John Butt, Carlo Vitali, William Weber, Judith Milhous, Robert D. Hume, H. Diack Johnstone, Lowell Lindgren, Ruth Smith, C. Steven LaRue, David Ross Hurley, Anthony Hicks, Graydon Beeks, Malcolm Boyd, Terence Best, Mark W. Stahura, Winton Dean