Greetings, gentler readers. It is a rare and exciting day here on the CD Odyssey – I’ve randomly rolled classical music! I know very little about classical music, other than as with every other kind of music, I like what I like. So, if you would like a scholarly or high-brow approach to Handel, go buy a book or take a course. If you’d like a more whimsical approach to the music itself and how it affects me (and maybe glean some details on how you might feel about it) then read on.
Disc 1702 is…Handel: Compact Companions
Artist: George Frideric Handel
Year of Release: 1993 but music from 1717 - 1749
What’s up with the Cover? It’s an old-timey painting! A more cultured person could have told you exactly what old-timey painting is, but I am not that person. Therefore, I'm going to make up my own story.
The gentleman depicted appears sweet on the lady, but if he wants to be taken seriously he needs to tone his ‘swoon’ down by several degrees. No one respects that much swooning, as you can see from the slightly amused and haughty look on said lady’s face. She might like the attention, but she’s not remotely close to handing him her calling card.
How I Came To Know It: Sheila bought this album at a book store more than twenty years ago. It is actually a small commemorative book providing historical and musical details of Handel’s life and works. What I’ll be discussing here is only that oval on the cover that reads, “Includes a 60-minute CD”. That’s this. I feel like the advertisement should end with an exclamation point, but given this is a classical work, maybe the cover designers were going for tasteful restraint.
…
Nope. That ship sailed when they slapped an advertisement on a famous painting.
How It Stacks Up: This is our only album by Handel, so it can’t stack up.
Rating: Is this a true album or a “best of” Handel, and thus not eligible for ranking as per house rules? I considered this very solemnly for a good 10 minutes or so (an eternity in cognitive time). I found that with the exception of “Water Music” and “The Messiah”, the majority of the stuff on this record represent the complete work. Also, it wasn’t like Handel was out there pressing vinyl in 1717, so I’m going to rank away - 5 stars!
The winds of time are harsh and unforgiving, which means that you don’t hang around in famous town for long without having some talent. Handel’s “Messiah” is still performed every Christmas, and the other tunes (or ‘works’ for the toffee-nosed amongst you) on this record are also all instantly recognizable. 300 years have passed with his reputation undiminished. This is as it should be, because Handel is a revelation. He was famous in his day, and he’s famous now, and when you’re this good, that’s as it should be.
The record starts off with a goodly chunk of “Water Music”. I don’t know if it is the best parts of the piece, but based on how much I like it, it seems likely. This tune is the first of many that showcases Handel’s mastery of melody. Don’t expect a bunch of double base action here – Handel is going to keep it light and let the top end of the orchestra have its way. Violins to the fore, and don’t spare the bow hair!
The tune seems like something you’d like to hear played by a small orchestra on the shore of some lake while you get rowed about and enjoy a bottle of wine. I’m sure its been done.
After this we get the complete “Concerto Grosso, Op. 6, No.1”. Again, it is sublime. My favourite instrument in classical music is the violin, and while Handel is famed for his organ (hee hee), he is also gifted at featuring the mighty violin, as he does here.
“Coronation Anthem ‘Zadok the Priest’” reads like something out of a Conan novel (where Zadok is worshipping Dagon and eventually gets beheaded by Conan). In fact it has been used in the coronation of British (and Canadian) monarchs for most of the past 300 years. That bit in the middle with the choir dropping “God save the king! Long live the king!” is a triumphant march down the streets of London, with the trill of violin feeling like a choir of songbirds that whorl and spin in the back eddy of all that pomp ceremony. There aren’t actually songbirds (more likely pigeons) but it feels like it.
The other major “full” piece is “Organ Concerto No. 6” which is masterful and along with Op. 6 Concerto above, had me thinking that Handel perfected each of his ideas around the sixth iteration. That’s a wild guess though – I haven’t heard the other five, so it is just as likely they are all awesome. Anyway, I saw a bit of the live action on this Organ Concerto and I was left thinking “that looks hard to play.” The result doesn’t sound hard though, it sounds like a whimsical fairy dance party.
Things end with the last part of the “Messiah” aka “the part everyone knows. This may seem like an overly obvious choice, but I challenge you to listen to the “Hallelujah Chorus” and not want to shout out a few of them. Inspirational to hear irrespective of your religious leanings.
I tend to like my classical music like I like my rap: clean production, and space to appreciate what’s going on. That’s Handel, who lifted my spirits with every one of these selections. This is a record meant to be played at high volume, and with your full attention for maximum enjoyment. You will not be disappointed.
Best tracks: all tracks, which are all the ones noted above, plus the overture for “Music for the Royal Fireworks” which is…exactly that. For best results, pair with a bold valpolicella…and fireworks.
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