Menuhin – Handel (8 CD box set, APE)

Composer: Georg Friderich Handel
Performer: Simon Preston
Orchestra: Bath Festival Orchestra
Conductor: Yehudi Menuhin
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: EMI Classics
Size: 2.68 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc: 1
01. I: A Tempo Giusto
02. II: Allegro
03. III: Adagio
04. IV: Allegro
05. V: Allegro
06. I: Andante Larghetto
07. II: Allegro
08. III: Largo
09. IV: Allegro, Ma Non Troppo
10. I: Larghetto
11. II: Andante
12. III: Allegro
13. IV: Polonaise: Andante
14. V: Allegro, Ma Non Troppo
15. I: Larghetto Affettuoso
16. II: Allegro
17. III: Largo, E Piano
18. IV: Allegro
19. I: Larghetto, E Staccato
20. II: Allegro
21. III: Presto
22. IV. Largo
23. V: Allegro
24. VI: Menuet: Un Poco Larghetto

Disc: 2
01. I: Larghetto E Affettuoso
02. II: Allegro, Ma Non Troppo
03. III: Musette: Larghetto
04. IV: Allegro
05. V: Allegro
06. I: Largo
07. II: Allegro
08. III: Largo, E Piano
09. IV: Andante
10. V: Hornpipe
11. I: Allemande: Andante
12. II: Grave
13. III: Andante Allegro
14. IV: Adagio
15. V: Siciliana: Andante
16. VI: Allegro
17. I: Largo
18. II: Allegro
19. III: Larghetto
20. IV: Allegro
21. VI: Gigue
22. V: Menuet
23. I: Ouverture
24. II: Allegro
25. III: Air: Lento
26. IV: Allegro
27. V: Allegro
28. VI: Allegro Moderato

Disc: 3
01. I: Andante Larghetto E Staccato
02. II: Allegro
03. III: Largo E Staccato
04. IV: Andante
05. V: Allegro
06. I: Largo
07. II: Allegro
08. III: Larghetto, E Piano
09. IV: Largo
10. V: Allegro
11. I: Largetto
12. II: Allegro
13. III: Adagio
14. IV: Allegro
15. I: Andante
16. II: Allegro
17. III: Adagio
18. IV: Alla Giga
19. I: Adagio
20. II: Allegro
21. III: Largo
22. IV: Allegro
23. I: Affettuoso
24. II: Allegro
25. III: Larghetto
26. IV: Allegro

Disc: 4
01. I: Adagio
02. II: Allegro
03. III: Largo
04. IV: Allegro
05. I: Adagio
06. II: Allegro
07. III: Largo
08. IV: Allegro
09. Ouverture: Maestoso
10. Allegro
11. Adagio E Staccato
12. Allegro
13. Andante
14. Allegro Da Capo
15. Moderato – Trio
16. Air
17. Menuet – Trio
18. Bourree
19. Hornpipe
20. Dialogue: Allegro Molto
21. Allegro
22. Adagio
23. Gigue
24. Hornpipe
25. Menuet
26. Hornpipe Da Capo
27. Minuett
28. Lento
29. Presto
30. Lento
31. Presto
32. Minore
33. Presto
34. Menuet
35. Andante
36. Country Dance: Allegro

Disc: 5
01. I: Larghetto E Staccato
02. II: Allegro
03. III: Adagio
04. IV: Andante
05. I: Sinfona – II. A Tempo Ordinario E Staccato
06. III: Allegro
07. IV: Adagio E Staccato
08. V: Allegro Ma Non Presto
09. I: Adagio
10. II: Organo Ad Libitum
11. III: Allegro
12. IV: Organo Ad Libitum
13. V: Gavotte: Allegro
14. I: Allegro
15. II: Andante
16. III: Adagio
17. IV: Allegro
18. I: Largo
19. II: Allegro
20. III: Alla Siciliana
21. IV: Presto

Disc: 6
01. I: Andante – II: Allegro
02. III. Larghetto
03. IV. Allegro Moderato
04. I: Andante
05. II: Andante
06. III: Largo E Piano
07. IV: Fuga: Allegro
08. V: Organo Ad Libitum: Adagio
09. VI: Bouree: Allegro
10. I: Ouverture
11. II: A Tempo Ordinario
12. III: Organo Ad Libitum: Largo
13. IV: Allegro
14. I: Allegro
15. II: Organo Ad Libitum: Adagio E Fuga
16. III: Spiritoso
17. IV: Menuett I – Menuet II
18. I: Adagio
19. II: Allegro Cosi Cosi
20. III: Organo Ad Libitum
21. IV: Allegro

Disc: 7
01. I: Allegro Ma Non Troppo, E Staccato
02. II: Organo Ad Libitum
03. III: Andante Larghetto E Staccato
04. IV: Organo Ad Libitum: Adagio
05. V: Menuet
06. I: Pomposo
07. II: Organo Ad Libitum: Lento
08. III: Air: A Tempo Ordinario
09. I: Larghetto
10. II: Allegro
11. III: Organo Ad Libitum
12. IV: Larghetto
13. V: Allegro
14. I: Largo E Staccato
15. II: Organo Ad Libitum
16. III: Andante
17. IV: Grave
18. V: Allegro
19. I: Andante
20. II: Organo Ad Libitum
21. III: Allegro

Disc: 8
01. I: Overture: Grave – Allegro Ma Non Troppo
02. II: Allegro
03. III: Largo
04. IV: A Tempo Ordinario – Alla Breve (Moderato)
05. V: Menuet
06. I: Andante
07. II: Adagio
08. III: Allegro
09. I: Ouverture: Grave – Allegro – Lentement – Allegro
10. II: Bourree
11. III: La Paix
12. IV: La Rejouissance
13. V: Menuet I
14. VI: Menuet II
15. Marches: Atalanta (HWV 35) – Joshua (HWV 64) – Occasional Oratorio (HWV 62)

The Great Mr Handel in a very small box.

In terms of quantity, Bach and Handel’s orchestral music occupies only a small part of their total works. There are many masterpieces amongst them, however. In the case of Handel, the concerti grossi and most of the organ concerti are works of high order, as are the famous “Fireworks Music” and “Water Music”.

EMI have selected for their “Handel” box, all these works, together with several violin sonatas and a few other miscellaneous items. The recordings date from the years 1962-1970. This was the time when Yehudi Menuhin successfully extended his music making activities, collecting eminent instrumentalists around him while leading as violinist. These are not the recordings of Handel music he made later during his more problematic phase as conductor.

I don’t recommend this box to those who insist on the authentic sound of period instruments. Menuhin and Co. clearly exploit the beauties of sound texture and the varieties of classical forms that Handel’s scores provide, using instruments and playing styles that could equally well apply to the music of C19th composers. Menuhin’s own special sound, especially in the violin sonatas, is rich and vibrant. George Malcolm provides the harpsichord work in the concerti grossi, playing a Goff harpsichord with its inimitable “nutty” tone. It is a young Simon Preston who features in the organ concerti, recorded in a variety of locations using organs some of which date back to Handel’s time.

There are other Handel “boxes” on the market, providing more or less the same coverage of works in more recent recordings. Missing in this Menuhin box are the oboe concerti – regrettable because they comprise some of the last recordings made by oboist Leon Goossens.

If, like me, you prefer Handel’s instrumental to his vocal music, you will find much to enjoy and great value in this slim box of 8 CDs.