SKU: CA.3116513

ISBN 9790007209100. Text language: German/English. Text: Franck, Salomo.

The cantata O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad (O Holy spirit's solemn rite) BWV 165 is one of Bach's earliest cantata compositions and was presumably first performed in the Weimar Schlosskirche for Trinity Sunday in 1715. With a simple instrumentation of only strings and basso continuo (including bassoon), the cantata offers an alternative to the later Leipzig cantatas for the Feast of the Holy Trinity, also with regard to the vivid interpretation of the text in the librettos by Salomon Franck. In the two expressive recitatives and the three distinctively different arias, Bach repeatedly emphasizes the central words of the text, which focuses on the meaning of the rebirth of the spirit through baptism. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3116500.

SKU: CA.3116512

ISBN 9790007209094. Text language: German/English. Text: Franck, Salomo.

The cantata O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad (O Holy spirit's solemn rite) BWV 165 is one of Bach's earliest cantata compositions and was presumably first performed in the Weimar Schlosskirche for Trinity Sunday in 1715. With a simple instrumentation of only strings and basso continuo (including bassoon), the cantata offers an alternative to the later Leipzig cantatas for the Feast of the Holy Trinity, also with regard to the vivid interpretation of the text in the librettos by Salomon Franck. In the two expressive recitatives and the three distinctively different arias, Bach repeatedly emphasizes the central words of the text, which focuses on the meaning of the rebirth of the spirit through baptism. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3116500.

SKU: CA.2770219

ISBN 9790007133917. Key: C major. Language: Latin. Text: Langton, Stephen. Text: Stephan Langton.

Antonio Caldara, with about 3,400 works to his credit, ranks among the most prolific composers of the Baroque era and of music history in general. From 1716 Caldara was employed as the Vice-Music Director at the Court of Vienna, where he quickly developed into the primary and favorite composer of the musically knowledgeable Emperor Karl VI. Caldara's festive setting of the sequence for Whitsun, Veni Sancte Spiritus, which may have been composed around 1725, is now made available for the first time in print. The catchy and compact piece is suited for concert performance and is also excellently suited for the liturgical context of Whitsun: during the Mass, for example, as entrance or exit music or as music for the offertory. Through similar scoring requirements Caldara's setting of the sequence can also be used with many compositions of the Ordinary without any additional effort. For most church choirs the tutti sections with Caldara's favored homophonic, yet effective vocal writing represent a grateful task. Score and parts available separately - see item CA.2770200.

SKU: CA.2770211

ISBN 9790007202637. Key: C major. Language: Latin. Text: Langton, Stephen.

Antonio Caldara, with about 3,400 works to his credit, ranks among the most prolific composers of the Baroque era and of music history in general. From 1716 Caldara was employed as the Vice-Music Director at the Court of Vienna, where he quickly developed into the primary and favorite composer of the musically knowledgeable Emperor Karl VI. Caldara's festive setting of the sequence for Whitsun, Veni Sancte Spiritus, which may have been composed around 1725, is now made available for the first time in print. The catchy and compact piece is suited for concert performance and is also excellently suited for the liturgical context of Whitsun: during the Mass, for example, as entrance or exit music or as music for the offertory. Through similar scoring requirements Caldara's setting of the sequence can also be used with many compositions of the Ordinary without any additional effort. For most church choirs the tutti sections with Caldara's favored homophonic, yet effective vocal writing represent a grateful task. Score and part available separately - see item CA.2770200.

SKU: CA.2770212

ISBN 9790007202644. Key: C major. Language: Latin. Text: Langton, Stephen. Text: Stephan Langton.

Antonio Caldara, with about 3,400 works to his credit, ranks among the most prolific composers of the Baroque era and of music history in general. From 1716 Caldara was employed as the Vice-Music Director at the Court of Vienna, where he quickly developed into the primary and favorite composer of the musically knowledgeable Emperor Karl VI. Caldara's festive setting of the sequence for Whitsun, Veni Sancte Spiritus, which may have been composed around 1725, is now made available for the first time in print. The catchy and compact piece is suited for concert performance and is also excellently suited for the liturgical context of Whitsun: during the Mass, for example, as entrance or exit music or as music for the offertory. Through similar scoring requirements Caldara's setting of the sequence can also be used with many compositions of the Ordinary without any additional effort. For most church choirs the tutti sections with Caldara's favored homophonic, yet effective vocal writing represent a grateful task. Score and part available separately - see item CA.2770200.

SKU: BA.BA04025-01

ISBN 9790006443222. 33 x 26 cm inches. Text Language: English.

Handelâ??s â??Semeleâ?, which premiered in February 1744, is based on an adapted version of William Congreveâ??s opera libretto titled â??The Story of Semeleâ?, originally published in 1706. However, neither Handel nor his librettist referred to â??Semeleâ? as an opera or an oratorio, which, according to the understanding at the time, would have required a biblical and/or Christian subject matter. Contemporary audiences also disagreed on the genre. The problematic classification as an oratorio has persisted into the present day, likely due to the edition labeled as such by Chrysander. The â??Halle Handel Editionâ? (HHA) distances itself from this classification and, considering the available sources, refrains from assigning a genre label.

Congreve deviates from the mythological source multiple times in order to create tensions among the characters. The desired marriage between Semele and Athamas, whom she does not love, is an addition by Congreve to provoke the envy of her sister Ino, who desires Athamas herself. Therefore, Ino sees her own advantage in Semeleâ??s abduction by Jupiter. While Jupiterâ??s wife Juno decides to destroy Semele out of jealousy for his relationship with her, Jupiter brings Ino to his palace to console Semele. The vengeful Juno takes advantage of Inoâ??s presence and transforms into her likeness, persuading Semele to carry out a plan that later proves fatal. In the end, Ino emerges as the winner, as she is able to convince their father, Cadmus, to marry her to Athamas. The appearance of Apollo in the final scene to announce that Semeleâ??s immortal son Bacchus was saved from her ashes provides little consolation. However, this twist allows the drama to conclude with exuberant joy and a magnificent final chorus after the tragic scenes in the third act, culminating in the death of the protagonist.

Handelâ??s autograph score shows significant deviations from and numerous revisions of the original version premiered. All surviving early versions, the musical movements deleted before the premiere, and the version of the December 1744, are given in the appendix to the HHA.