Organ Concerto in g minor, Op. 4, No. 1, HWV 289

Composer: HANDEL, George Frideric
  • Handel’s Op. 4 collection of six organ concertos was released by London publisher John Walsh1 in 1738.2
  • Handel was the first composer to develop the organ concerto as a genre; in fact, his Oxford Music article states that he “effectively invented” the genre.3
  • Handel performed his organ concertos during the intervals of his oratorios, as a sort of added attraction (and a way to show off his virtuosity).4
  • Handel premiered this concerto in the interval of his ode Alexander’s Feast on February 19, 1736.5

Sources

  1. Anthony Hicks, “Handel [Händel, Hendel], George Frideric,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed January 6, 2022, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000040060.
  2. “6 Organ Concertos, Op. 4 (Handel, George Frideric),” IMSLP, accessed January 6, 2022, https://imslp.org/wiki/6_Organ_Concertos%2C_Op.4_(Handel%2C_George_Frideric).
  3. Hicks, “Handel [Händel, Hendel], George Frideric,” Grove Music Online.
  4. Ibid.
  5. Ibid.

Cut IDs

24419 44757