Ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 76, is a cantata composed by George Frideric Handel in 1739. The title of the cantata refers to Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians. The premiere was on 22 November 1739 at the Theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields, London.
Words
Handel sets a poem which the English poet John Dryden wrote in 1687. The main theme of the text is the Pythagorean theory of harmonia mundi, that music was a central force in the Earth's creation.
Music
Ebenezer Prout has commented on various facets of Handel's instrumentation in the work and Edmund Bowles has written on Handel's use of timpani in the work.
Movements
- Overture: Larghetto e staccatoâÂÂallegroâÂÂminuet
- Recitative (tenor): From harmony, from heavenly harmony
- Chorus: From harmony, from heavenly harmony
- Aria (soprano): What passion cannot music raise and quell!
- Aria (tenor) and Chorus: The trumpet's loud clangour
- March
- Aria (soprano): The soft complaining flute
- Aria (tenor): Sharp violins proclaim their jealous pangs
- Aria (soprano): But oh! What art can teach
- Aria (soprano): Orpheus could lead the savage race
- Recitative (soprano): But bright Cecilia raised the wonder higher
- Grand Chorus with (soprano): As from the power of sacred lays
Texts
From Harmony (Recit)
From Harmony (Chorus)
What Passion Cannot Music Raise and Quell
The Trumpet's Loud Clangour
The Soft Complaining Flute
Sharp Violins Proclaim
But Oh! What Art Can Teach
Orpheus Could Lead The Savage Race
As From The Power Of Sacred Lays
Recordings
- Ode for St Cecilia's Day, (2018, CD): Carolyn Sampson, soprano; Ian Bostridge, tenor; Polish Radio Choir, Dunedin Consort, conducted by John Butt; Linn Records â CKD578
- Ode for St Cecilia's Day, (2004, CD): Carolyn Sampson, soprano; James Gilchrist, tenor; Choir & Orchestra of The King's Consort, conducted by Robert King; Hyperion Records â CDA67463
- Ode for St Cecilia's Day, (2003, CD): Felicity Lott, soprano; Anthony Rolfe Johnson, tenor; Crispian Steele-Perkins, trumpet; Lisa Beznosiuk, flute; The English Concert And Choir, conducted by Trevor Pinnock; Deutsche Grammophon â Archiv Produktion â 474 549-2
- Ode for St Cecilia's Day, (1984/2008, CD): Monika Frimmer, soprano; Eberhard BÃÂchner, tenor; members of the choir of the Landestheater Halle, of the Hallischen Chorsolisten and the Collegium vocale; the Händel-Festspielorchester Halle, conducted by Christian Kluttig; Berlin Classics â 0013992BC
- Ode for St Cecilia's Day, (1978, CD): Felicity Palmer, soprano; Anthony Rolfe Johnson, tenor; Bachchor Stockholm, Concentus musicus Wien, conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt; Teldec â 40630-12319-2
- Ode for St Cecilia's Day, (1968, LP): April Cantelo, soprano; Ian Partridge, tenor; Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, conducted by Sir David Willcocks; Argo â ZRG 563
See also
References
External links