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Composed during a few hectic weeks in the autumn of 1739, the set was partly intended by Handel – renowned mainly as a writer for singers and as an organist – to reinforce his stature as an instrumental composer.
The result is music that exhibits a great variety of musical thought and invention, here interpreted by the highly acclaimed Polish ensemble Arte dei Suonatori making their third recording for BIS. The recordings are the fruit of a regular collaboration between the ensemble and French conductor Martin Gester, focusing on the baroque concerto.
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in G major, Op. 6, No. 1, HWV 319
I. A tempo giusto
II. Allegro
III. Adagio
IV. Allegro
V. Allegro
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in F major, Op. 6, No. 2, HWV 320
I. Andante larghetto
II. Allegro
III. Largo
IV. Allegro, ma non troppo
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in E minor, Op. 6, No. 3, HWV 321
I. Larghetto
II. Andante
III. Allegro
IV. Polonaise: Andante
V. Allegro, ma non troppo
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 6, No. 4, HWV 322
I. Larghetto affettuoso
II. Allegro
III. Largo e piano
IV. Allegro
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in D major, Op. 6, No. 5, HWV 323
I. Larghetto e staccato
II. Allegro
III. Presto
IV. Largo
V. Allegro
VI. Menuet: Un poco larghetto
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op. 6, No. 6, HWV 324
I. Largo e affettuoso
II. Allegro, ma non troppo
III. Musette: Larghetto
IV. Allegro
V. Allegro
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in B flat major, Op. 6, No. 7, HWV 325
I. Largo
II. Allegro
III. Largo, e piano
IV. Andante
V. Hornpipe
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in C minor, Op. 6, No. 8, HWV 326
I. Allemande: Andante
II. Grave
III. Andante allegro
IV. Adagio
V. Siciliana: Andante
VI. Allegro
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in F major, Op. 6, No. 9, HWV 327
I. Largo
II. Allegro
III. Larghetto
IV. Allegro
V. Menuet
VI. Gigue
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in D minor, Op. 6, No. 10, HWV 328
I. Overture - Allegro
II. Air: Lento
III. Allegro
IV. Allegro
VI. Allegro moderato
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in A major, Op. 6, No. 11, HWV 329
I. Andante larghetto, e staccato
II. Allegro - Largo e staccato
III. Andante
IV. Allegro
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in B minor, Op. 6, No. 12, HWV 330
I. Largo
II. Allegro
III. Larghetto, e piano - Variatio
IV. Largo
V. Allegro
January 2009
*****
“This Polish ensemble, little recorded so far, plays them splendidly - 16 technically assured period strings, coloured by harpsichord or organ continuo and a pretty active archlute. The ensemble is intensely expressive, from the stark open-string ending of the No. 6 Largo, through a wall of sound in the Polonaise of No. 3, to the witty fugue in the opening movement of No. 7.”
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I. A tempo giusto
