Soloists, Mixed choir, Orchestra

SKU: BA.BA04025-01

Composed by George Frideric Handel. Edited by Georg-Friedrich-Händel -Gesellschaft e. V. Risinger and Mark. This edition: Complete edition. Linen. Complete edition, Score. HWV 58. Baerenreiter Verlag #BA04025-01. Published by Baerenreiter Verlag (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.

Hande lâ??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.

ATB vocal soli, SATB choir, recorder, violin solo, violin, 2 viola, cello, basso continuo - Level 3

SKU: CA.3118212

Cantata for Palm Sunday or for the feast of the Annunciation. Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Edited by Reinhold Kubik. Arranged by Paul Horn. German title: Himmelskonig, Sei Willkommen A-Dur. Sacred vocal music, Cantatas, Lent and Passiontide, Holy Week, Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Hymns in praise of the Virgin Mary. Single Part, Viola 1. Composed 1714. BWV 182. 8 pages. Duration 30 minutes. Carus Verlag #CV 31.182/12. Published by Carus Verlag (CA.3118212).

ISBN 9790007050290. Key: A major. Language: German/English. Text: Franck, Salomo. Text: Salomo Franck.

Version in A major (version in G major: Carus 31.182/50) The cantata Himmelskonig, sei willkommen BWV 182 holds a special place in Johann Sebastian Bach's biography. He had been employed as organist and chamber musician at the court of Weimar since 1708; on 2 March 1714, he was appointed concert master of the court, and his inauguration music for this occasion was Himmelskonig, sei willkommen. The cantata was first performed on Palm Sunday of that year, 25 March 1714. Bach performed this cantata several times - always revising and amending it - both in Weimar and in Leipzig. Of the altogether four versions, the first Leipzig version has been selected for the present new edition. Unlike the Weimar versions, it can be realized effectively using modern performance means. In his debut composition of 1714, the newly appointed concert master demonstrated his abilities: the eight movements contain a multitude of beautiful and rewarding challenges for choir and vocal soloists alike, and in addition there is the unusual attraction of a virtuoso solo part for the recorder. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3118200.

Solo voices, SATB chorus, orchestra (2 Corni di bassetto, 2 Fg, 2 Tr, 3 Trb, Timp, 2 Vl, Va, Bc)

SKU: CA.5165203

Completed and edited by Howard Arman. Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Edited by Howard Arman. Arranged by Howard Arman. Vocal score. KV 626. Duration 50 minutes. Carus Verlag #5165203. Published by Carus Verlag (CA.5165203).

ISBN 9790007294243. Key: D minor. Latin.

The English conductor and composer Howard Arman has presented us with a completed version of Mozartâ??s Requiem. â??Another one?â? you might ask, since this publication is only the latest in a long line reaching back to the traditional SüÃ?mayr version. Yet such is the enormous power of Mozartâ??s score that the challenge and appeal of completing it remain undiminished. After two decades of intensive study, Howard Armanâ??s additions to Mozartâ??s great original show the requisite care and respect while incorporating many new insights.

Armanâ? ?s approach is particularly fruitful. Always aware of the appropriate limits to such re-creative work, he orients himself towards the typical characteristics of Mozartâ??s brilliant composing style: The masterly compositional technique, the search for innovative solutions to every problem, and even the terse treatment of the text with extremely suggestive harmonies. All of this leads to a number of new listening experiences. In the Tuba mirum, for example, we enjoy a warm, cohesive ensemble sound, supported by the bassoons, which depart from the bass line. The Confutatis presents a quite different picture: Even the basset horns are drawn down into the infernal depths. This effect is reinforced by the independence of the trombones; rather than simply following the choral parts, the instrumentâ??s unique sound is given an opportunity to shine. Armanâ??s Lacrimosa achieves a lively Mozartian feel by granting the voices considerable freedom rather than following a rigid pattern. And he concludes the movement with a fugal Amen, whereby the focus is not so much on the counterpoint itself, but rather â?? in the spirit of Mozart â?? on creating a sense of drama and illuminating the theme in all its possible facets. Mozartâ??s fragment ends with the Hostias, and so does Armanâ??s completion.

For the four following movements (Sanctus to Communio) we have nothing from Mozart, and so here, where the master is silent, Arman finally returns to Sü�mayr, the man who was closest to Mozart at the time of his death and whose efforts to fill the blank manuscripts still garner our respect today.

Armanâ??s version has already proven its practical value. The premiere with the Bavarian Radio Choir was enthusiastically received by audiences and press alike â?? and celebrated as offering a scholarly, entirely fresh perspective on Mozartâ??s masterpiece.

- World premiere by the Bavarian Radio Choir
- Enthusiastically received by audience and press.

Soli STB, SATB Choir, 2 Ob, Cor, Org obl, 2 Vl, Va, Bc - Level 3

SKU: CA.3107349

Cantata for the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany. Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Edited by Reinhold Kubik. Arranged by Paul Horn. Organ. Sacred vocal music, Cantatas, Epiphany. Single Part, Organ. Composed 1724. BWV 73. 16 pages. Duration 17 minutes. Carus Verlag #CV 31.073/49. Published by Carus Verlag (CA.3107349).

Key: G minor / c minor. Language: German/English.

In 1724, Bach composed the cantata Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit mir [Lord, as you will, do unto me] BWV 73 for the third Epiphany Sunday. Like in some other cantatas from the first annual cycle, the opening movement contains a part for corno which would in fact have been unplayable on an instrument of that era - probably also a reason why Bach allocated this part to the organ in a repeat performance (both variants can be performed using the Carus edition). The unusual choral movement, interrupted by recitatives, is based quite substantially on a short four-note motive which is introduced by the horn; at the end of the chorus, the choir sings it to the words Herr, wie du willt [Lord, as you will] - an avowal which also quite substantially characterizes other movements of the cantata. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3107300.