Oboe Concerto No. 1 (Handel)

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The Oboe Concerto No. 1 in B flat major (HWV 301) was composed by George Frideric Handel for oboe, orchestra and basso continuo. It was first published in the fourth volume of Select Harmony by Walsh in 1740. [1] Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxi, 85; and HHA iv/12,17. [1]

Contents

The concerto is thought to be an early work of Handel's, [1] however the attribution to Handel has been questioned on stylistic grounds [2]

A typical performance of the work takes almost eight minutes.

Movements

The work consists of four movements:

  1. Adagio
  2. Allegro
  3. Siciliana
  4. Vivace (in the rhythm of a minuet)

See also

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A fine and delicate touch, a volant finger, and a ready delivery of passages the most difficult, are the praise of inferior artists: they were not noticed in Handel, whose excellencies were of a far superior kind; and his amazing command of the instrument, the fullness of his harmony, the grandeur and dignity of his style, the copiousness of his imagination, and the fertility of his invention were qualities that absorbed every inferior attainment. When he gave a concerto, his method in general was to introduce it with a voluntary movement on the diapasons, which stole on the ear in a slow and solemn progression; the harmony close wrought, and as full as could possibly be expressed; the passages concatenated with stupendous art, the whole at the same time being perfectly intelligible, and carrying the appearance of great simplicity. This kind of prelude was succeeded by the concerto itself, which he executed with a degree of spirit and firmness that no one ever pretended to equal.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oboe Concerto No. 3 (Handel)</span>

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The Oboe Concerto No. 2 in B flat major was composed by George Frideric Handel for oboe, orchestra and basso continuo. It was first published in the fourth volume of Select Harmony by Walsh in 1740. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxi, 91; and HHA iv/12,47.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concerti grossi, Op. 3 (Handel)</span>

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Hicks, Anthony (2001). "Handel, George Frideric". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians . Vol. x (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan. p. 797.
  2. The Musical Times , David Humphreys: 'HWV301', vol.151 no.1913 (Winter 2010), pp.2–3.