Handel’s music is so embedded in the British musical consciousness, that even if they can’t quite remember what it’s called, members of the congregation are quick to recognise and appreciate when you play one of his pieces. ‘That’s the um, er…?’ ‘Water Music by Handel,’ you say – or ‘Fireworks Music’, or ‘The Minuet from Berenice.’ Yes of course, they knew that really!, and off they go, happily humming the tune.
Movements from the Water Music and The Musick for the Royal Fireworks are included in An Easy Handel Organ Album, edited by Daniel Moult, and published by Bärenreiter. ‘ The movements arranged here are probably the best known, and exist in various more demanding organ arrangements elsewhere,’ says Moult. But the emphasis in this anthology is arrangements that can be enjoyed without making excessive demands on technique – and it includes other crowd-pleasers such as the Largo from Serse, and See the Conquering Hero Comes.
Handel was, and is, a much-arranged composer. The album includes authorised arrangements and transcriptions by John Walsh, Handel’s publisher, and Daniel has arranged other pieces in the spirit of Walsh. One of my favourites in the book is A Flight of Angels – more prosaically a nifty little piece which Handel wrote for a musical clock; subsequently transcribed by his amanuensis and personal assistant John Christopher Smith for a barrel organ. Its restricted range (two octaves) requires tidy fingerwork – I heard Daniel play it in a recent recital. Some original harpsichord pieces are also included, on the basis that instrumental designation was much more fluid in 18th century England.
As with the companion Easy Bach Album, there’s an index of difficulty for someone learning on their own; and useful notes on articulation, the performance convention of notes inégales, practice technique, and individual suggestions for each piece on tempo and registration based on the organs of Handel’s time. An advantage for the beginner organist is that organs of Handel’s time rarely had pedals – Moult has included simple pedal parts in a few of his own arrangements.
Handel’s music might be seen as a bit middlebrow, but it’s never corny or trite, and always worth the learning. Every church organist who wants to please the pews should have some of his works under their fingers, and this album allows the beginner organist to do just that.
AN EASY HANDEL ORGAN ALBUM
Orginal Works and Arrangements
Edited by Daniel Moult
Bärenreiter BA11213
ISMN 979-0-006-55861-2
£15
Available for next day delivery from Bärenreiter’s UK Music Store website www.barenreiter.co.uk
feature portrait of Handel attributed to Balthasar Denner (1685-1749), National Portrait Gallery
