Handel: Die Acht Grossen Suiten

 

I have several CD versions of George Frederik Handel's Eight Great Keyboard Suites (1720).  Originally composed for harpsichord, recorded versions on either piano or harpsichord are available.  I have recordings of both, but usually prefer the piano versions. 

UK's ResearchOnLine offers this background on the compositions:

"The ‘Great Suites’ are an inspired, idiosyncratic amalgam of Gallic courtly dances, Italian vocal lyricism, Teutonic counterpoint and robust English tunefulness. Whereas Bach’s keyboard suites follow broadly similar patterns, centered on the traditional French dance sequence of Allemande, Courante, Sarabande and Gigue, Handel’s are unpredictable, with no two suites alike in the number and ordering of their movements. There are fugues, arias with variations, Italian-style sonata movements, even (in No 7) a Passacaglia. Compared with the elaborate finish of Bach’s suites, Handel’s often give the impression of written-down improvisations. In the fantasia-like Preludes, especially, Handel hints at his own genius as extemporizer, while leaving plenty to the performer’s own imagination."

I've been listening to this set of compositions for many years, and have again returned to them this week.  Even after listening to them for so long, I still hear new elements within their depths.  In my opinion, the counterpoint is clearly some of Handel's finest.  It is at once dramatic, lyrical, flowing, and poetic.  I suspect this set of compositions has been and continues to make an impact on my own writing, playing, and thinking.

For the full set on CD, I'd recommend this version.  It's a pure and unaffected reading, and the recording quality is the usual ECM excellence.  Additionally, this is a wonderful, albeit incomplete, reading, 

Happy listening!

-kk