Gloria (Handel)
Encyclopedia
George Frideric Handel
's Gloria is a sacred solo cantata, a setting of the Gloria
, the liturgical part of the Mass
, for soprano and strings. Handel may have composed it in Germany before departing for Italy in 1706. The composition was lost and was only attributed to Handel in 2001.
's library in 2001.
Handel may have composed Gloria, a demanding piece for a coloratura voice
, two violins and basso continuo, during his early years in Germany prior to his departure for Italy in 1706 or in Italy in 1707. He divided the liturgical text in eight movements. Later he used parts of it for his compositions Laudate pueri dominum and Utrecht Jubilate.
The manuscript is not in Handel's hand but bound in a collection of arias by Handel. The singer William Savage
(1720-1789) owned the volume. Probably his pupil Robert Stevens left it to the Academy upon his death in 1837. The work was identified by Hans Joachim Marx, professor of the University of Hamburg
.
A note in the Sunday Telegraph
on 11 March 2001 announced "Lost work by Handel could rival Messiah
/ An unknown choral work by Handel that some music scholars believe will come to be regarded as significant as Messiah has been discovered in the library of the Royal Academy of Music", but that was a sensational heading, whereas the article described the work correctly. "Perhaps not too many sopranos will be able to perform this piece.", was a comment of Marx, who had found the manuscript. Curtis Price
, the principal of the Academy, testified: "The music is fresh, exuberant and a little wild in places, but unmistakably Handel." It was then believed that the was written in Italy in 1707. Emma Kirkby
, who performed the first recording, released in May 2001, said that "the piece has individuality and charm, good bravura moments, and, more important, some moments of depth, beauty, and poignancy".
The first public performance was on 18 May 2001, sung by soprano Patrizia Kwella with Fiori Musicali and Penelope Rapson as artistic director, at the Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre in Huntingdon
. A second performance was given at the International Händel Göttingen Festival on 3 June 2001 by Dominique Labelle with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
and Nicholas McGegan
. Katia Plaschka
performed it in 2003 in the Unionskirche, Idstein
, along with Handel's Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate
.
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
's Gloria is a sacred solo cantata, a setting of the Gloria
Gloria in Excelsis Deo
"Gloria in excelsis Deo" is the title and beginning of a hymn known also as the Greater Doxology and the Angelic Hymn. The name is often abbreviated to Gloria in Excelsis or simply Gloria.It is an example of the psalmi idiotici "Gloria in excelsis Deo" (Latin for "Glory to God in the highest")...
, the liturgical part of the Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
, for soprano and strings. Handel may have composed it in Germany before departing for Italy in 1706. The composition was lost and was only attributed to Handel in 2001.
History
Gloria (HWV deest, the Latin word meaning "missing"), is a work which was missing from the Handel thematic catalog, but was discovered at the Royal Academy of MusicRoyal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
's library in 2001.
Handel may have composed Gloria, a demanding piece for a coloratura voice
Coloratura soprano
A coloratura soprano is a type of operatic soprano who specializes in music that is distinguished by agile runs and leaps. The term coloratura refers to the elaborate ornamentation of a melody, which is a typical component of the music written for this voice...
, two violins and basso continuo, during his early years in Germany prior to his departure for Italy in 1706 or in Italy in 1707. He divided the liturgical text in eight movements. Later he used parts of it for his compositions Laudate pueri dominum and Utrecht Jubilate.
The manuscript is not in Handel's hand but bound in a collection of arias by Handel. The singer William Savage
William Savage
William Savage was an English composer, organist, and singer of the 18th century. He sang as a boy treble and alto, a countertenor, and as a bass...
(1720-1789) owned the volume. Probably his pupil Robert Stevens left it to the Academy upon his death in 1837. The work was identified by Hans Joachim Marx, professor of the University of Hamburg
University of Hamburg
The University of Hamburg is a university in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded on 28 March 1919 by Wilhelm Stern and others. It grew out of the previous Allgemeines Vorlesungswesen and the Kolonialinstitut as well as the Akademisches Gymnasium. There are around 38,000 students as of the start of...
.
A note in the Sunday Telegraph
Sunday Telegraph
The Sunday Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper, founded in February 1961. It is the sister paper of The Daily Telegraph, but is run separately with a different editorial staff, although there is some cross-usage of stories...
on 11 March 2001 announced "Lost work by Handel could rival Messiah
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
/ An unknown choral work by Handel that some music scholars believe will come to be regarded as significant as Messiah has been discovered in the library of the Royal Academy of Music", but that was a sensational heading, whereas the article described the work correctly. "Perhaps not too many sopranos will be able to perform this piece.", was a comment of Marx, who had found the manuscript. Curtis Price
Curtis Price
Professor Sir Curtis Alexander Price, KBE has been Warden of New College, Oxford since October 2009. He was previously Principal of the Royal Academy of Music from 1995 to 2008 and Professor of Music in the University of London.Price was raised in Charleston, Illinois and received his...
, the principal of the Academy, testified: "The music is fresh, exuberant and a little wild in places, but unmistakably Handel." It was then believed that the was written in Italy in 1707. Emma Kirkby
Emma Kirkby
Dame Carolyn Emma Kirkby, DBE is an English soprano singer and one of the world's most renowned early music specialists. She attended Sherborne School For Girls in Dorset and was a classics student at Somerville College, Oxford, and an English teacher before developing a career as a soloist...
, who performed the first recording, released in May 2001, said that "the piece has individuality and charm, good bravura moments, and, more important, some moments of depth, beauty, and poignancy".
The first public performance was on 18 May 2001, sung by soprano Patrizia Kwella with Fiori Musicali and Penelope Rapson as artistic director, at the Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre in Huntingdon
Huntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was chartered by King John in 1205. It is the traditional county town of Huntingdonshire, and is currently the seat of the Huntingdonshire district council. It is known as the birthplace in 1599 of Oliver Cromwell.-History:Huntingdon...
. A second performance was given at the International Händel Göttingen Festival on 3 June 2001 by Dominique Labelle with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra is an orchestra based in San Francisco, which is dedicated to historically informed performance of Baroque, Classical and early Romantic music on original instruments. The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra was founded in 1981 by harpsichordist, teacher and early music...
and Nicholas McGegan
Nicholas McGegan
Nicholas McGegan OBE is a British harpsichordist, flautist, conductor and early music expert....
. Katia Plaschka
Katia Plaschka
Katia Plaschka is a German coloratura soprano who performs in opera, especially contemporary opera, and concert performances of oratorios.-Professional career:...
performed it in 2003 in the Unionskirche, Idstein
Unionskirche, Idstein
The Unionskirche is the Protestant parish church of Idstein, a major town in the German Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis. Idstein was a residence of the Counts of Nassau...
, along with Handel's Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate
Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate
Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate is a sacred choral composition in two parts, written by George Frideric Handel to celebrate the Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht in 1713, ending the War of the Spanish Succession. The combination of a Te Deum and Jubilate, the Psalm 100, follows...
.
Structure
Handel divided the text in eight movements.- Gloria in excelsis Deo
- Et in terra pax
- Laudamus te
- Gratias agimus tibi
- Domine Deus, Rex caelestis
- Qui tollis peccata mundi
- Quoniam tu solus sanctus
- Cum sancto spiritu
External links
- Handel's Gloria / Previously Unknown Composition musicweb-international.com 2001
- Gloria - Handel in Rome John Ostendorf & Elaine Comparone, liner notes 2006