Israel in Egypt, HWV 54: Cantata/ Oratorio, Orchestra Accompaniment, Conductor Score

In 1733, the emergence of a rival opera company led George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) to seek a new audience by writing English-language oratorios. ISRAEL IN EGYPT, HWV 54, serves as one of the finest examples of this work, composed within a single month in the autumn of 1738. The libretto, a blending of passages from the Old Testament, mainly from Exodus and Psalms, was probably authored by Charles Jenners. It premiered at the King's Theatre in London on April 4, the following year, in a concert which also included some of his organ concerti which he himself performed. Following its initial failure, Handel revised the piece by cutting the first section and adding some Italian-style arias. The two-part form is here arranged by Friedrich Chrysander in this Kalmus edition. Instrumentation: 2.2.0.2: 0.2.3.0: Timp: Org: Hpchd: Str (2.2.2.1.1 in set): Solo SATB, Mx Chor.