Handel: Music for Royal Occasions [Import]

Michael George (Performer), George Frederick Handel (Composer), James Bowman (Performer), King's Consort (Performer, Orchestra), Oxford New College Choir (Orchestra), Gillian Fisher (Performer), John Mark Ainsley (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Michael George, James Bowman, King's Consort, Gillian Fisher, John Mark Ainsley
• Orchestra: King's Consort, Oxford New College Choir
• Composer: George Frederick Handel
• Audio CD (November 15, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B000002ZL8
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #213,701 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Alto Solo

2. Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Alto Solo: Chorus

3. Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Soprano Solo: Chorus

4. Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Alto Solo: Chorus

5. Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Alto & Bass Duet: Chorus

6. Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Soprano & Alto Duet

7. Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Soprano & Alto Duet : Chorus

8. Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Bass Solo: Chorus

9. Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Alto Solo: Chorus

10. Te Deum In D Major ('Queen Caroline'): Te Deum In D Major, Alto, Tenor & Bass Solos And Chorus

11. Te Deum In D Major ('Queen Caroline'): Te Deum In D Major, Tenor Solo: Chorus: Bass Solo

12. Te Deum In D Major ('Queen Caroline'): Te Deum In D Major, Alto Solo And Chorus

13. Te Deum In D Major ('Queen Caroline'): Te Deum In D Major, Chorus

14. Te Deum In D Major ('Queen Caroline'): Te Deum iI D Major, Alto Solo

15. Te Deum In D Major ('Queen Caroline'): Te Deum In D Major, Chorus

16. Anthem For The Wedding Of Prince Frederick And Princess Augusta Of Saxe-Coburg: 'Sing Unto God': Sing Unto God, Alto Solo And Chorus

17. Anthem For The Wedding Of Prince Frederick And Princess Augusta Of Saxe-Coburg: 'Sing Unto God': Sing Unto God, Soprano Solo

18. Anthem For The Wedding Of Prince Frederick And Princess Augusta Of Saxe-Coburg: 'Sing Unto God': Sing Unto God, Bass Solo

19. Anthem For The Wedding Of Prince Frederick And Princess Augusta Of Saxe-Coburg: 'Sing Unto God': Sing Unto God, Chorus

20. Anthem For The Wedding Of Prince Frederick And Princess Augusta Of Saxe-Coburg: 'Sing Unto God': Sing Unto God, Tenor Solo

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A marvellous demonstration of Handelian ingenuity...., September 6, 2006

By 

William (Brisbane, Queensland Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel: Music for Royal Occasions (Audio CD)

I have immense feelings of joy when ever I listen to this CD. Some of the music on it was previously unknown to me before I had purchased the CD, but it is has now come to be a definite favourite.

As the title suggests, this is a collection of rather grand music, Handel at his most ceremonial. It is the style with which he became most associated in the years after his death, where an image of grandiose surrounded him, greatly sustained by the almost biblical status the Victorian age gave him. While it has some consensus now that this image probably wasn't helpful to Handel in the long run, it is still good to hear a rousing Handel anthem now and again.

King is at his best in these marvellous interpretations. He breathes new life into almost anything he conducts. Certainly this should be no exception. Of particular note, is the anthem 'Sing unto God'. After an admirable introduction on the violins, a lone counter-tenor sings but four introspectively powerful notes, before the full and breath-taking entry of the choir and orchestra combined, in massive block chords. It is a marvellous demonstration of Handelian ingenuity, in a deceptive appearance of simplicity. The entire anthem is incredible, and one can only imagine with what wonder the first audiences listened to it.

It's a shame also that the 'Anthem for the birthday of Queen Anne' isn't more well known. Handel's treatment is expansive, and the choral refrains are remarkably varied, the first being my personal favourite, with it's imposing entry, and highly skilled counterpoint.

I warmly and whole-heartedly recommend this CD to all, in what is a stunning example of excellence, and a triumph for Robert King.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars rare material, fine performance, March 1, 2006

By 

Robert D. Harmon "bobnbob3" (Mill Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handel: Music for Royal Occasions (Audio CD)

Beautiful work by the King's Consort and the Oxford choir, of some fairly hard-to-find and worthwhile works by Handel: Ode to Queen Anne's Birthday, Te Deum, Sing Unto God. I prefer a little more up-tempo on the first Ode aria, Eternal Source of Light Divine, but that's a personal quibble and I highly recommend this album to anyone interested in baroque in general, baroque vocal works, and Handel in particular.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music no Handel lover should be without, March 29, 2009

By 

Kariba (Vancouver, BC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel: Music for Royal Occasions (Audio CD)

This is a delightful album. The choir sings with enthusiasm and the soloists are a who's who of British Baroque performers. Of particular note is Michael George, who is in fine voice and who has one of the most beautiful solos on the album -- Thy Wife Shall be as the Fruitful Vine -- accompanied by Jane Coe on cello.

The recording is spacious, yet the sound is clear and focused. Highly recommended.