SKU: CA.5507549

ISBN 9790007171315. Text language: German/English.

For the magnificent opening of the oratorio season at the beginning of 1736 Handel presented a composition which, like hardly any of his other oratorios, gave him the opportunity to display his musical artistry: John Dryden's ode Alexander's Feast or the Power of Music, published in 1696, demonstrates the power of music by the example of the ancient hero, Alexander the Great. From the impressive lament on the death of Darius, the King of Persia, to the boisterous Praise of Bacchus Handel avails himself of the entire breadth of the musical representation of the emotions and the possibilities for expression. In the text by Newburg Hamilton added at the end of work St. Cecilia elevates the events of the ancient heathen story, which Handel expressed in plastic, skillful polyphony. Later, this homage to the patron saint of church music, Handel also present the opportunity to perform the work on St. Cecilia's Day (22 November). For the first time the present new edition is based consistently on Handel's conducting score, which he used for his own performances of the oratorio, thus not only eliminating timeworn errors, but also offering clarity concerning the choruses, the arias and recitatives, actually performed in Handel's concerts, as well as their sequence of performance. The new Carus edition offers two performance versions: the version of the premiere in 1736, as well as a revised version from 1751. Furthermore, the inclusion of the Concerto for Harp HWV 294 (CV 55.294) is also possible; Handel composed this work especially for Alexander's Feast (as an illustration of Timotheus, the ancient poet who played the lyre). For this purpose the edition contains the appropriate alternatives for the sequence of the movements. Score and part available separately - see item CA.5507500.

SKU: CA.3103749

ISBN 9790007042738. Key: A major. Language: German/English.

Lyricist possibly Christian Weiss, Sen.; This edition contains a reconstructed part fo violin solo (Durr/Hellmann) for the Tenor Aria no. 2. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3103700.

SKU: CA.3108013

ISBN 9790007045371. Key: D major. Language: German/English. Text: Luther, Martin. Text: Martin Luther, Salomo Franck.

Bach's Reformation cantata, based on what is probably Martin Luther's most famous hymn, evolved over a period of several years. At the beginning was a Weimar cantata for Oculi Sunday 1716, now missing, which was based on the hymn with an instrumental quotation in the opening aria and with the final chorale. In the Leipzig years around 1730, Bach wrote a cantata for Reformation Day using this material. It began with the first verses of Luther's hymn in a simple four-part setting and also included the other verses. Later on, in the 1730s or 1740s, Bach replaced the introductory chorale movement with a chorale setting which was unique, spacious and motet-like in its style; this - uniquely in this respect - incorporated the choral writing in an instrumental canon for oboes and organ continuo. The powerful opening chorus is followed by recitatives and arias which reflect the full breadth of Bach's art of word painting and emotion. One of Bach's most magnificent cantatas, one of the greatest works in the history of music. In addition to the complete performance material the arrangements of movements 1 and 5 (with 3 trumpets, timpani as playing score) by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach are available (Carus 3108089). Score and part available separately - see item CA.3108000.

SKU: CA.3949349

ISBN 9790007240639. Language: German/English.

The cantata text by Erdmann Neumeister known from Bach's work of the same name (BWV 61), appears here in a much shorter composition by Telemann. Definitely it has a charm of its own. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3949300.

SKU: CA.3114749

ISBN 9790007208462. Key: C major. Language: German/English. Text: Franck, Salomo. Text: Salomo Franck.

Original form of the later BWV 147, composed in Weimar. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3114700.