Tra le fiamme (Il consiglio) (HWV 170) is a dramatic secular cantata for soprano and instruments written by George Frideric Handel in 1707. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG liiB,66; and HHA v/5,55. [1] The title of the cantata translates as "In flames (Counsel)".
The text for the work was written by Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili. The payment on 6 July 1707 (recorded in Pamphili's account books) for the copying of a large cantata probably refers to Tra le fiamme. [2]
Using the analogy of butterflies attracted to a flame, and the story of Daedalus (who constructed wings made from wax and feathers for himself and his son Icarus), Pamphili uses the cantata to issue a warning to his audience: that the phoenix can rise from the flames, however the butterflies will be killed. It is possible that the cardinal was also directing the warning specifically to Handel, as there was a rumour at the time about a relationship between Handel (then twenty-two) and the singer Vittoria Tarquini (who was the mistress of Prince Ferdinand de' Medici of Florence). [3]
The work is scored for two recorders (flauto), oboes (hautbois), two violins, viola da gamba, a "Violone Grosso" (as specified in Handel's autograph) and, as customary practice in the 18th century, a harpsichord. The work is notable for having a virtuoso part for the viola da gamba. [3] The cantata begins with an aria followed by two recitative-aria pairings, after which a final recitative is performed before an instruction to repeat ("Da Capo") the cantata's opening aria (an unusual feature in Handel cantatas). [2]
A typical performance of the work takes about seventeen and a half minutes.
The work consists of seven movements (with the final movement being a partial repeat of the first):
| Mvmnt | Type | Key sig. | Time sig. | Tempo | Bars | Text (Italian) | Text (approx. English) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aria | G major | 3 8 | 163 | Tra le fiamme tu scherzi per gioco, | Among the flames you playfully dart, | Two sections (116 and 47 bars)—without repeat markings. Includes a "Da Capo", "Fine" instruction. | |
| 2 | Recitative | 4 4 | 17 | Dedalo già le fortunate penne | Daedalus once, with crafty hands weaved fortunate wings out of soft wax to which feather to feather is added. | |||
| 3 | Aria | D major | 4 4 | 43 | Pien di nuovo e bel diletto, | Full of new and lovely enjoyment, the young boy melted the wings, while darting in the breezes. | Two sections (32 and 11 bars)—without repeat markings. Includes a "Da Capo", "Fine" instruction. | |
| 4 | Recitative | 4 4 | 5 | Sì, sì purtroppo è vero: | Yes, yes it is unfortunately true: there are many flying daringly like Icarus, but only one Daedalus. | |||
| 5 | Aria | A minor | 4 4 | 46 | Voli per l'aria chi può volare | Fly through the air whoever wishes to do so rushing through land and sea, starting and stopping without returning to the foot. | Includes a "Da Capo", "Fine" instruction. | |
| 6 | Recitative | 4 4 | 7 | L'uomo che nacque per salire al cielo, | The man born to ascend to heaven, leaves his thoughts on the ground, and then has flight with pretend wings, that he was not born with. | |||
| 7 | Aria | G major | 3 8 | (116) | A "Da Capo" repeat of the cantata's opening aria. |
(Movements do not contain repeat markings unless indicated. The number of bars is the raw number in the manuscript—not including repeat markings. The above is taken from volume 52B, starting at page 66, of the Händel-Gesellschaft edition.)
Agrippina is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel with a libretto by Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani. Composed for the 1709–10 Venice Carnevale season, the opera tells the story of Agrippina, the mother of Nero, as she plots the downfall of the Roman Emperor Claudius and the installation of her son as emperor. Grimani's libretto, considered one of the best that Handel set, is an "anti-heroic satirical comedy", full of topical political allusions. Some analysts believe that it reflects Grimani's political and diplomatic rivalry with Pope Clement XI.
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Benedetto Pamphili was an Italian cardinal, patron of the arts and librettist for many composers.
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The Oboe sonata in C minor was composed by George Frideric Handel for oboe and basso continuo. The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 8, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii, 29; and HHA iv/18,32.
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XV Solos for a German Flute, Hoboy, or Violin with a Thorough Bass for the Harpsichord or Bass Violin was published by Friedrich Chrysander in 1879. The 72-page volume contains sonatas, for various instruments, composed by or attributed to George Frideric Handel. The words on the cover of the publication are: Sonate da Camera di G.F.Handel. The publication includes all the sonatas as published by Walsh in 1732; and those sonatas, as well as extras included by Chrysander, include the body of work that is known as Handel's "Opus 1".
The Violin sonata in G minor is a work for violin and basso continuo that was originally thought to have been composed by George Frideric Handel. Modern scholars however believe it doubtful that the work was composed by Handel, and have labelled it as "spurious". The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 10, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,37; and HHA iv/4,28.
The Sonata in F major was composed by George Frideric Handel for recorder and basso continuo. The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 11, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii, 40; and HHA iv/3,52.
The Violin sonata in F major is a work for violin and basso continuo that was originally thought to have been composed by George Frideric Handel. Modern scholars however believe it doubtful that the work was composed by Handel, and have labelled it as "spurious". The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 12, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,42; and HHA iv/4,40.
The Violin sonata in G minor was composed by George Frideric Handel for violin and basso continuo. The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 6, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,22; and HHA iv/18,6. Also published in HG xlviii,118.
Un'alma innamorata is a dramatic secular cantata for soprano and instruments written by George Frideric Handel in 1707. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG liiB,92; and HHA v/5,97. The title of the cantata translates as "A soul in love".
O lucenti, o sereni occhi is a dramatic secular cantata for soprano written by Georg Frideric Handel in 1707. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG li, 28;. The title of the cantata translates as "O shining, o serene eyes".
Jesus Christus ist um unsrer Missetat willen verwundet is a St Mark Passion which originated in the early 18th century and is most often attributed to Reinhard Keiser. It may also have been composed by his father Gottfried or by Friedrich Nicolaus Bruhns. Johann Sebastian Bach produced three performance versions of the Passion, the last of which is a pasticcio with arias from George Frideric Handel's Brockes Passion. There are two other extant 18th-century versions of the Passion, both of them independent of Bach's versions. The Passion was performed in at least three cities in the first half of the 18th century: in Hamburg in 1707 and 1711, in Weimar around 1712, and in Leipzig in 1726 and around 1747.
Del bell'idolo mio is a dramatic secular cantata for soprano written by Georg Frideric Handel in 1707–09. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG l,48. The title of the cantata translates as "Of my beautiful idol".
Aure soavi e liete is a Baroque dramatic secular cantata in the key of E-flat major composed by George Frideric Handel in 1707 while he was serving as Kapellmeister to the Ruspoli family in Rome. The author of the text is unknown. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG l,12. The cantata is scored for solo soprano voice and basso continuo. It is divided into four separate movements with a typical performance lasting approximately seven and a half minutes.
Allor ch'io dissi addio is a dramatic secular cantata for soprano written by Georg Frideric Handel in 1707–08. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG l,8. The title of the cantata translates as "Then I said goodbye".
