What we know as 'Handel's Opus 3' is most likely little more than a brazen attempt by the London publisher John Walsh to make some quick money. In 1715, Walsh had issued a pirated edition of Corelli's 12 Concerti Grossi Opus 6 which proved an instant success and left him constantly looking for similar opportunities. Almost 20 years later, perhaps in the knowledge that the royal protection granted to Handel's musical output was about to expire, Walsh assembled a set of six orchestral pieces for a wide range of instruments. He prefaced them with a wholly misleading title-page - based on Corelli's style-defining collection - and advertised them as Handel's 'Opera Terza'. It is likely that Handel never took part in the selection and organization of the individual movements, although he may have been involved in the revisions made when a reprint was necessary a few years later. Selected from various sources, the six concertos certainly don't form an organic cycle - in complete contrast to the future Op.?6 concerti grossi, which Handel carefully conceived as a set. The fact remains that Opus 3 contains some of Handel's best-loved music, in instrumental combinations that are colorful and often unexpected - aspects that Martin Gester and his musicians in the Tasmanian period band Van Diemen's Band make the most of.

Tracklist:

Concerto Grosso In B-Flat Major, Op. 3 No. 2, Hwv 313: I. Vivace
Concerto Grosso In B-Flat Major, Op. 3 No. 2, Hwv 313: II. Largo
Concerto Grosso In B-Flat Major, Op. 3 No. 2, Hwv 313: III. Allegro
Concerto Grosso In B-Flat Major, Op. 3 No. 2, Hwv 313: IV. Tempo Di Minuetto
Concerto Grosso In B-Flat Major, Op. 3 No. 2, Hwv 313: V. Gavotte
Concerto Grosso In G Major, Op. 3 No. 3, Hwv 314: Ia. Largo E Staccato
Concerto Grosso In G Major, Op. 3 No. 3, Hwv 314: Ib. Allegro
Concerto Grosso In G Major, Op. 3 No. 3, Hwv 314: II. Adagio
Concerto Grosso In G Major, Op. 3 No. 3, Hwv 314: IV. Allegro
Concerto Grosso In D Minor, Op. 3 No. 5, Hwv 316: I. Grave
Concerto Grosso In D Minor, Op. 3 No. 5, Hwv 316: II. Allegro
Concerto Grosso In D Minor, Op. 3 No. 5, Hwv 316: III. Adagio
Concerto Grosso In D Minor, Op. 3 No. 5, Hwv 316: IV. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Concerto Grosso In D Minor, Op. 3 No. 5, Hwv 316: V. Allegro
Concerto Grosso In D Major, Op. 3 No. 6, Hwv 317: Ia. Vivace
Concerto Grosso In D Major, Op. 3 No. 6, Hwv 317: Ib. Adagio
Concerto Grosso In D Major, Op. 3 No. 6, Hwv 317: II. Allegro
Concerto Grosso In F Major, Op. 3 No. 4a, Hwv 315 "Orchestra": I. Andante
Concerto Grosso In F Major, Op. 3 No. 4a, Hwv 315 "Orchestra": II. Andante
Concerto Grosso In F Major, Op. 3 No. 4a, Hwv 315 "Orchestra": III. Allegro
Concerto Grosso In F Major, Op. 3 No. 4a, Hwv 315 "Orchestra": IV. Minuetto Alternativo
Concerto Grosso In B-Flat Major, Op. 3 No. 1, Hwv 312: I. Allegro
Concerto Grosso In B-Flat Major, Op. 3 No. 1, Hwv 312: II. Largo
Concerto Grosso In B-Flat Major, Op. 3 No. 1, Hwv 312: III. Allegro

UPC: 7318599920795
Label: Bis
Release Date: 5.7.21
Format: CD

Handel / Van Diemen's Band / Gester - Six Concerti Grossi 3 (Hybr) (CD)