Description
This keyboard suite in B-flat major was published by Handel in 1733 as part of his second collection of harpsichord suites. Like much Baroque suite writing, it strings together several dance-inspired movements with interweaving contrapuntal lines and ornamented melodies. At over eight minutes with a dense note count, it demands steady technique and stamina from an advanced player.
Baroque-era suites that string together a sequence of contrasting dances, such as allemandes and gigues, into a single work.
About the Composer
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
George Frideric Handel was a Baroque composer born in Halle, Germany, who later became a naturalized British citizen. Celebrated for the oratorio Messiah and his Italian-style operas, he also composed many keyboard suites and sonatas. Often mentioned alongside his contemporary Bach, his music is marked by accessible melody and stately grandeur. This site includes 72 of his works, such as gavottes, concertos, and sonatinas.
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