A Sunday programme in the ‘baroque spirit’. Tuning to Peace – festive baroque music by Händel, Croft, Blow, and Purcell, on the occasion of the Treaty of Utrecht.
This month, April 2013, the city of Utrecht has begun celebrating the Treaty of Utrecht (or Peace of Utrecht) that was signed in 1713.
The upcoming Festival Oude Muziek (early music festival) is also centered around the Treaty of Utrecht, especially the concert by the European Union Baroque Orchestra & Choir of Clare College led by Lars Ulrik Mortensen on Saturday 31 August in the St. Martin’s Cathedral, or Dom Church, in Utrecht.
See the website for the complete festival programme: www.oudemuziek.nl
In 1713 it was mainly Händel who wrote great works on the occasion of this European treaty, that would be signed by people like Queen Anne of England.
In the same period, William Croft, a colleague of Händel, wrote an ode that references the Peace of Utrecht.
1. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Te Deum HWV 278 (Music for the Peace of Utrecht, 1713)
– Soli and Chorus
– Soli and Chorus
– Soli and Chorus
– Soli and Chorus
– Soli and Chorus
– Soli and Chorus
– Chorus
– Chorus
– Soli and Chorus
– Chorus
Nicki Kennedy, soprano. William Towers, alto. Wolfram Lattke and Julian Podger, tenor. Peter Harvey, bass. De Nederlandse Bachvereniging led by Jos van Veldhoven
(CCS SA 29610, 2010)
2. William Croft (1678-1727)
Ode for the Peace of Utrecht (With Noise of Cannon)
– Overture
– Vers: With Noise of Cannon
– Aria: A milder, happier strain we now begin
– Chorus: Tuning to Peace
– Duet: Peace is the Song
– Chorus: The Soul of Musick
– Aria: Nor will we ev’n the Martial Trumpet spare
– Chorus: Where, Mighty Anna, will thy Glories end
Nicki Kennedy, soprano. William Towers, alto. Wolfram Lattke and Julian Podger, tenor. Peter Harvey, bass. De Nederlandse Bachvereniging led by Jos van Veldhoven
(CCS SA 29610, 2010)
3. George Frideric Handel
Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne, HWV 74 (‘Ode for the Peace’):
– Solo: Eternal source of light divine
– Solo e Coro: The day that gave great Anna birth
– Solo: Let all the winged race with joy
– Soli e Coro: Let flocks and herds their fear forget
– Duetto e Coro: Let rolling streams their gladness show
– Duetto: Kind health descends on downy wings
– Duetto e Coro: The day that gave great Anna birth
– Solo e Coro: Let envy then conceal her head
– Solo e Coro: United nations shall combine
Hélène Guilmette, soprano. Andreas Scholl, countertenor. Andreas Wolf, bass. Vocalconsort Berlin and Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin led by Marcus Creed
(HMC 902041, 2009)
4. John Blow (1649-1708)
– Peaceful is he, and most secure
5. Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
– O all ye people, clap your hands
6. William Croft
– What art thou? (A Hymn on Divine Musick)
Les Arts Florissants led by William Christie
(Virgin Classics 3 951 44 2, 2007)
7. George Frideric Handel
Jubilate HWV 279 (Music for the Peace of Utrecht)
– Tenore, Chorus
– Soli and Chorus
– Alto and Basso
– Chorus
– Alto, Tenore and Basso
– Chorus
– Chorus
Nicki Kennedy, soprano. William Towers, alto. Wolfram Lattke and Julian Podger, tenor. Peter Harvey, bass. De Nederlandse Bachvereniging led by Jos van Veldhoven
(CCS SA 29610, 2010)
