Description
Part of Handel's 1720 set of eight great suites, this work is written in the relatively unusual key of F-sharp minor. At over eight and a half minutes with more than three thousand notes, it is a substantial multi-movement piece demanding stamina and broad expressive range. Its minor-key shading combines with contrapuntal writing to give a rich taste of Baroque keyboard style, suited to advanced players.
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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