Esther (HWV 50a/b) is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel. It is generally acknowledged to be the first English oratorio. Handel set a libretto after the Old Testament drama by Jean Racine. The work was originally composed in 1718, but was heavily revised into a full oratorio in 1732. Esther began in 1718 as a masque, or chamber drama (HWV 50a), composed early in Handel's English career, and before the body of his success as an opera composer. It was first composed and performed at Cannons, where the Duke of Chandos employed Handel from 1716 - 1718 as resident composer writing for his patron's singers and small orchestra. Little is known about this first version of Esther. The version which survives is of a revision in 1720, also probably intended for private performance at Cannons, where the very wealthy Duke of Chandos employed a group of musicians and singers, and where Acis and Galatea, Handel's first non-religious vocal work in the English language, also had its premiere in 1718. The Cannons version of Esther was in six scenes with no break and written for an ensemble of one soprano, an alto, two tenors and two basses. Like Acis and Galatea, Esther may have been staged or semi-staged, with the soloists singing together to create a chorus when required. The author of the libretto is uncertain.

By 1731, Handel had spent more than ten years composing Italian operas for London and presenting seasons of his operas at London theatres. There was no system of royalties or copyright at that time, and a copy of the score of Esther having been obtained, the 1720 version was performed, apparently in a staged version, by boy singers of the Chapel Royal at the Crown and Anchor tavern, a popular venue for music, and was very successful. A member of the Royal Family asked Handel to present Esther at the theatre where his operas were performed, but the Bishop of London, Edmund Gibson, would not permit Biblical stories to be acted out upon the stage. Therefore, Handel decided to present Esther in concert form as an addition to the 1732 opera season, with the singers currently appearing in the Italian operas but no scenery or stage action, and in a revised three-act form with additional text by Samuel Humphreys. The work was extremely popular and thus the form of the English oratorio was invented, almost by accident.

Although originally composed for Chorus & Orchestra, I created this Interpretation of selections (Arias & Choruses) from "Esther" (HWV 50a) for various instrument ensembles. The sheet music is available in the listed links below:

00:00:00 1-Sinfonia (Overture) for Solo Piano ([ Ссылка ])
00:06:59 2-"Pluck root and branch" for String Quartet ([ Ссылка ])
00:09:34 3-"Shall we the God of Israel fear?" for Wind Quartet
00:11:19 4-"Tune your harps to cheerful strains" for Flute, Oboe & Piano ([ Ссылка ])
00:15:21 5-"Praise the Lord with cheerful noise" for Flute & Harp ([ Ссылка ])
00:21:09 6-"Sing songs of praise" for French Horn & Strings ([ Ссылка ])
00:25:01 7-"Ye sons of Israel mourn" for Winds & Strings ([ Ссылка ])
00:26:59 8-"O Jordan sacred tide" for English Horn & Piano ([ Ссылка ])
00:33:24 9-"Dread not righteous Queen" for Baritone Horn & Piano ([ Ссылка ])
00:36:55 10-"Tears assist me" for Flute, Oboe & Piano ([ Ссылка ])
00:39:40 11-"Who calls my parting soul from death?" for Flute, Horn & Strings ([ Ссылка ])
00:42:04 12-"O beauteous Queen unclose those eyes" for Oboe & Strings ([ Ссылка ])
00:48:41 13-"How can I stay when love invites?" for English Horn & Piano ([ Ссылка ])
00:52:22 14-"Virtue, truth and innocence shall be her sure defence" for Winds & Strings ([ Ссылка ])
00:54:55 15-"Jehova crowned with glory bright" for English Horn & Strings ([ Ссылка ])
00:56:40 16-"He comes to end our woes" for Winds & Strings ([ Ссылка ])
01:02:12 17-"Turn not, O Queen, thy face away" for Bassoon & Strings ([ Ссылка ])
01:04:17 18-"Flattering tongue, no more I hear thee" for Flute & Piano ([ Ссылка ])
01:09:20 19-"How art thou falling from thy height" for Oboe & Strings ([ Ссылка ])
01:13:32 20-"The Lord our enemy has slain" for Winds & Strings ([ Ссылка ])

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