G. F. Hndel - Concerto Grosso Op. 6 N 8, HWV 326 - LArco Magico Chamber Orchestra Antonio Puccio

18 October 1739 i. Allemande - ii. Grave - iii. Andante allegro - iv. Adagio - v. Siciliana - vi. Allegro The allemande is a reworking of the first movement of Handel’s second harpsichord suite from his third set (No. 16), HWV 452, in G minor. Andrew Manze notes that its first bar “is a direct transposition of the opening bar of one of Johann Mattheson’s Pièces de clavecin,“ and speculates “Perhaps, it is meant as a salute to an old friend, teacher and dueling partner“. The 4-note figure used in the third movement goes back to a quartet from Handel’s opera Agrippina. In the fourth movement Handel quotes the opening ritornello of Cleopatra’s aria Piangerò la sorte mia from the third act of his opera Giulio Cesare. In the fifth movement Handel uses material from the discarded aria “Love from such a parent born“ from Saul.