A bit of gorgeous Handel for the end of this suffocating heat wave in Boston!
July of Handel: Zadok the Priest
“At the coronation itself on 11 October 1727, the choir of Westminster Abbey sang Zadok the Priest in the wrong part of the service; they had earlier entirely forgotten to sing one anthem and another ended ‘in confusion’.”
Despite a questionable debut, this epic Handel Coronation Anthem has been a part of the coronation of every British monarch since 1727.
Read more here, and then listen below!
July of Handel: Chaconne in G major, HWV 435
Never one to forget solo instruments as well, July of Handel continues this week with the Chaconne and Variations in G major, HWV 435!
July of Handel: Dixit Dominus
Before Handel moved to London, he spent time in Italy at the invitation of the Medici family. Opera was banned in Rome at the time, so he turned his attention to sacred music, including this glorious soprano duet from Dixit Dominus.
July of Handel: Lascia ch'io pianga
Before Handel started writing oratorios (like Messiah), he was a successful and celebrated composer of operas, including Rinaldo, his first opera after moving to London.
July of Handel: Royal Fireworks
Handel receives a lot of attention in December (for Messiah, of course), but there’s SO much more to explore than that. On this Early Music Monday, we’ll kick off July of Handel with Music for the Royal Fireworks!