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Background:

• The 6 Concerti grossi, Op. 3, HWV 312–317, are compiled into a set and published by John Walsh in 1734. Musicologists now agree that Handel had no initial knowledge of the publishing. Instead, Walsh, seeking to take advantage of the commercial success of Corelli's Concerti grossi, Op. 6, simply combined several of Handel's already existing works and grouped them into six "concertos." The structure of Op. 3 is somewhat unusual. The six concertos have anything between two and five movements, but only one of them contains the usual four movements. Only occasionally are the instrumental forces set in the traditional concerto grosso manner: a tutti group and a contrasting, soloistic concertino group. However, the concertos are filled with virtuoso solo passages for both the strings and the woodwinds, thus maintaining the form of the concerto grosso despite the lack of traditional contrasting forces.
• The Twelve Grand Concertos, Op. 6, HWV 319–330, are for a concertino violin duet and a ripieno four-part string orchestra with harpsichord continuo. First published by subscription in London by John Walsh in 1739, they became Handel's Opus 6 in a second edition two years later.
• The concerti were written to be played during performances of Handel's oratorios and odes. They were largely composed of new material; they are amongst the finest examples in the genre of baroque concerti grossi.
• The composition of the concerti grossi, however, because of the unprecedented period of time laid aside for their composition, seem to have been a conscious effort by Handel to produce a set of orchestral "masterpieces" for general publication.

Recordings:

• Concerto Grossi Opus 6.
  The Avison Ensemble.
  Pavlo Beznosiuk.
  Linn.
  BBC Music Magazine (2010): Orchestral Choice.
  Gramophone Awards (2011): Finalist Baroque Instrumental.

• Concerti grossi Op. 3, Sonata a 5.
  The Academy of Ancient Music.
  Richard Egarr.
  Harmonia Mundi.
  Gramophone Awards (2007): Winner Baroque Instrumental.
  Gramophone Magazine (2007): Editor’s Choice.
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2017): First Choice.

• Concerto grossi Op. 6 (1 – 6).
• Concerto grossi Op. 6 (7 – 12).
  Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin.
  Bernhard Forck.
  Pentatone.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2019): Op. 6 (1 – 6).

• Concerti grossi Op. 3.
  Alademie fur Alte Musik Berlin.
  Georg Kallweit.
  Pentatone.

• Concerti Grossi Op. 3.
  Concerto Copenhagen.
  Lars Ulrik Mortensen
  CPO.
  Gramophone Magazine (2012): Editor’s Choice.
  Gramophone Awards (2012): Finalist Baroque Instrumental
  

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Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.