Harmonious Blacksmith, The

George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel (arr. James Syler)

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General Info

Year: 1720 / 2020
Duration: c. 4:50
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Harpsichord
Publisher: James Syler
Cost: Score and Parts (digital) - $75.00 | (digital) - $10.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon (optional)
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet (optional)
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Bass Saxophone (optional)
String Bass

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

G.F. Handel published eight harpsichord suites in 1720 that showcase his mastery as a 35-year-old keyboard virtuoso. The Air and Variations is the final movement from the Suite No. 5 in E major. Through the years it’s become popular, and in the early 19th century took on the nickname The Harmonious Blacksmith. It is dazzling music, and considering the many colors available from woodwinds, this version for woodwind ensemble becomes kaleidoscopic, full of textural color, and fun to play.

This arrangement for full woodwind ensemble was completed in 2020 and celebrates the 300th anniversary of this music. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic when most college and high school bands have had to meet in smaller ensembles, it can be performed by 15-22 players.

The arrangement was commissioned by a consortium of four universities from Louisiana led by Dr. William Hochkeppel.

- Program Note by arranger

Media

Audio: Reference recording. MIDI realization

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Florida State University (Tallahassee) Wind Ensemble (Leslie Kupetz, conductor) - 23 February 2021
University of Louisiana at Lafayette Wind Ensemble (William Hochkeppel, conductor) – 18 October 2020 *Premiere Performance*

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Hail the Conquering Hero (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Marlatt) (1746/2008/2014)
Hallelujah Chorus (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1741/2013)
Hallelujah Chorus (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Thorp) (1741/2003)
Hornpipe from the "Water Music" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1717/2012)
Handel's Largo (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Brand) (1738/2007)
See the Conquering Hero Comes (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Brand) (1746/2007)
Water Music Suite (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Kanayama) (1717)

All Wind Works

Air and Finale (arr. Balent) (1717/1989)
Amen (arr. Grace)
Antiphonal Alleluia (arr. Liebergen) (1746/1999)
Ariodante Suite (arr. Elledge) (1735/2004)
Arm, Arm, Ye Brave (arr. Barrow) (1746/1980)
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (arr. Allen) (1748/2007)
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (arr. Kenny) (1748/1988)
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (arr. Ricketts) (1748/2004)
Concerto Grosso, Op 6
Concerto Op. 5, No. 6 (arr. Werle)
Conquering Hero Comes, The, from "Judas Maccabeus"
Dead March from "Saul"
Entrance of the Queen of Sheba (arr. Marlatt) (1748/2011)
Finale Grandioso (arr. Philip Gordon)
Fughetta (tr. Conley) (1986)
The Gods Go A-Begging (arr. Beecham; arr. Duthoit; rev. Leidzen) (1929/1947)
Hail the Conquering Hero (arr. Marlatt) (2008)
Hail the Conquering Hero (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Marlatt) (1746/2008/2014)
Hallelujah (arr. Davis and Longfield) (1741/2004)
Hallelujah, Amen (arr. Barnes) (1986)
Hallelujah Chorus (arr Ades) (1741/1958)
Hallelujah Chorus (arr. Barnes) (1741/1988)
Hallelujah Chorus (arr. Chiaffarelli) (1741/1941)
Hallelujah Chorus (arr. Glover) (1741/2016)
Hallelujah Chorus (arr. Johnson) (1741/1951)
Hallelujah Chorus (arr. Longfield) (1741/1994)
Hallelujah Chorus (arr. Rondeau) (1741/2010)
Hallelujah Chorus (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1741/2013)
Hallelujah Chorus (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Thorp) (1741/2003)
A Handel Celebration (arr. Erickson) (1985)
Handel's Largo (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Brand) (1738/2007)
The Harmonious Blacksmith (arr. Osterling) (1720/1992)
The Harmonious Blacksmith (arr. Syler) (1720/2020)
Hear Me, Ye Winds and Waves (arr. Barrow) (1726/1973)
Hornpipe from the "Water Music" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1717/2012)
Hornpipe from "Water Music Suite" (1717)
La Rejouissance (arr. Williams)
La Rejouissance from "Music for the Royal Fireworks" (arr. Seipp)
Larghetto (arr. Bullock) (1738/1994)
Larghetto (arr. Molenaar) (1739-40/1955)
Largo (arr. Barnes) (1738/1988)
Largo (arr. Fagan) (1738/2004)
Largo (arr. Hautvast) (1738/)
Lascia Ch'io Pianga (arr. Tamura) (1711/2014)
Let Me Weep (arr. Haan) (1711/2004)
March and Gavotte (arr. King) (1705/1956/1990)
Menuet Varié (Clarinet Choir) (arr. Hautvast) (/2011)
Menuet Varié (Saxophone Quartet) (arr. Hautvast) (/2011)
Menuetto from Symphony No. 104 "London" (arr. Glover)
Messiah Overture (arr. Johnson) (1741/1966)
The Music for the Royal Fireworks (arr. Boudreau) (1749/1959)
Music for the Royal Fireworks (arr. Erickson) (1749/1997)
Music for the Royal Fireworks (rescored Hindsley) (1749/197-?)
Music for the Royal Fireworks (arr. Leenhouts) (1749/2021)
The Music for the Royal Fireworks (arr. Mackerras and Baines) (1749/1960)
Music for the Royal Fireworks (ed. Rodenmacher) (1749/)
Music for Two Wind Bands (arr. Schaefer) (1977)
No Shade So Rare (arr. Forsblad) (1738/1999)
An Occasional Suite (arr. Osterling) (1746/1958)
Overture in D Minor
Passacaglia (arr. Longfield) (c. 1720/2014)
Royal Fireworks Music (arr. Sartorius) (1749/1941)
Royal Fireworks Music (arr. Schaefer) (1749/1982)
Sarabande (arr. Daehn) (1703-1706/1733/2004)
Sarabande (arr. Gingery) (1703-1706/1733/1976)
Sarabande (arr. Van Grevenbroek) (1703-1706/1733/2012)
Sarabande (arr. Hautvast) (1703-1706/1733/2004)
See the Conquering Hero Comes (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Brand) (1746/2007)
Slow March from "Scipio"
Song of Jupiter (arr. Anderson) (1952)
Suite from "Messiah" (trans. Curnow) (1741/1989)
A Suite of Baroque Dances (arr. Kinyon) (1979/1995)
Thanks Be to Thee
Three Chorales for Band (with Pasquini and Tchaikovsky; arr. Thornton) (1992/2004)
Three Movement from "Water Music" (arr. Wagner) (1715/2014)
Water Music (arr. Longfield) (1717/1997)
Water Music Suite (arr. Erickson) (1717/1985)
Water Music Suite (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Kanayama) (1717)
Water Music Suite (arr. Kay) (1717/1950)
Zadok the Priest

Resources

The Harmonious Blacksmith, Wikipedia Accessed 23 February 2021
James Syler website Accessed 23 February 2021