Alto Saxophone,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.522293 Composed by G F Handel. Arranged by Colin Kirkpatrick. Christmas,Easter,Holiday. Score and part. 6 pages. Colin Kirkpatrick Publications #6637671. Published by Colin Kirkpatrick Publications (A0.522293). This piece is probably Handel’s best-known melody, although it began life as an operatic aria. The opera was called Xerxes, sometimes written Serses and pronounced something like “ZERT-seesâ€�. It was commissioned by The King’s Theater in London and composed by Handel (who had become naturalized British and lived in London at the time) around 1737 and 1738. The opera is loosely based on the historical figure King Xerxes, who ruled from around 522-486 BC and was the fourth king of the Achaemenid Empire, a vast region that covered most of the present-day Middle East.   The melody is often known simply as Handel’s Largo (despite being marked “Larghettoâ€� in the musical score) and is the opening aria in the opera. The aria, known by its opening line Ombra mai fu is sung by Xerxes to a plane tree: “Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, let fate smile upon you...â€� Although this lovely melody has survived over the years, the opera itself was a complete failure when it was first performed in London in 1738. This arrangement is in E flat major concert (alto sax in C major) and the top note is the C above the treble clef and the piece generally requires the use of a long and sustained tone quality. The piano part has been kept as simple as possible. Being so well-known, this piece would make a popular encore number for a recital. The audio sample was performed by Alastair Penman https://www.alastairpenman.co.uk

Accordion,Double Bass,Guitar - Digital Download SKU: A0.1068892 Composed by Lars Ek. Folk,World. Full Performance. Duration 233. Lars Ek Cosmos Music c/o Musik & Underhållningsskrädderiet AB #1921495. Published by Lars Ek Cosmos Music c/o Musik & Underhållningsskrädderiet AB (A0.1068892). Something quite astonishing has happened in the Swedish accordion world during the last couple of years, we´ve got a new idol. It´s astonishing in two different ways: for us who know the accordion world it´s a fact that Lars Ek has been around as a professional accordionist for almost 20 years, since he finished school, second: he has become an idol playing music and in a style that has it´s roots 50 years back in the accordion music history. One could say that Lars Ek, today 35 years old, should have been 85, active in the 30´s. Himself, he confess that he feels kind of secret longing back to a time when accordionists were equilibrists, when accordionists played in a brilliant way, the golden age it was for all accordion music all over the world, an age that we will never meet again. It´s a type of music which is historical but not belonging to the museums, not dead, it´s a typical of music filled with life. Very much so thanks to Lars Ek. It´s a quite notable situation. Lars Ek has been playing the accordion for a long time, he has been playing all types of music that can be played on an accordion. Just some few years ago he met, via phonograph records, the music of Nils Lind and Ragge Sundquist (two legendary Swedish performers from the 30´s and the 40´s, both dead since long ago - they both founded a school and a style) and, of course, also Frosini. And then, finally, Lars Ek felt that it was exactly here, in this style where he belonged. Lars Ek finally came home. Some sloppy listeners say that Lars Ek is copying the music of Nils Lind. Those are listeners who don´t listen. Others say that Lars is a maniac - he plays on an accordion of the Raggie Sundquist brand from 1937 and since a couple of years he also owns and plays an accordion once owned by Pietro Frosini, manufactured in 1927. That´s not mania. The style asks for such instruments. It´s most correct that way. Lars Ek has become incredibly popular. There are many reasons. He has lots of personality, he is a stage personality, he shows enthusiasm and joy while performing, he knows how to attract an audience (and the girls say he´s very handsome). One other reason is that the music Lars performs finds lots of response from the audience. And, please, don´t think it´s only those old ones who were around in the 30´s who love the music - so do even the young ones! Lars Ek x 2 is the name of the record. The explanation is simple. Lars wasn´t able to find a second accordionist to assist him. So, thanks to the technique he is his own second accordionist himself in five of the tunes performed. There is one more explanation. Lars performs melodies linked to the names of Nils Lind, Ragge Sundquist and Frosini, but he also plays five compositions of hes own. Just to show how he wants accordion music to be composed. Lars Ek does not need any recommendation, his records sell anyway. But you´re going to get some final words. This records is, regarding style, very rare to be recorded in 1982, it´s a matter of looking back and to do so with lots of skill, a look back that golden age of the accordion. It´s also a very personal record. The inspiration may very well be Nils Lind, Ragge Sundquist and Pietro Frosini. But it´s Lars Ek who plays. In his personal way. Which means that this is a record played in a very personal way.

Accordion,Double Bass,Guitar - Digital Download SKU: A0.1068889 Composed by Lars Ek. Folk,World. Full Performance. Duration 206. Lars Ek Cosmos Music c/o Musik & Underhållningsskrädderiet AB #1921477. Published by Lars Ek Cosmos Music c/o Musik & Underhållningsskrädderiet AB (A0.1068889). Something quite astonishing has happened in the Swedish accordion world during the last couple of years, we´ve got a new idol. It´s astonishing in two different ways: for us who know the accordion world it´s a fact that Lars Ek has been around as a professional accordionist for almost 20 years, since he finished school, second: he has become an idol playing music and in a style that has it´s roots 50 years back in the accordion music history. One could say that Lars Ek, today 35 years old, should have been 85, active in the 30´s. Himself, he confess that he feels kind of secret longing back to a time when accordionists were equilibrists, when accordionists played in a brilliant way, the golden age it was for all accordion music all over the world, an age that we will never meet again. It´s a type of music which is historical but not belonging to the museums, not dead, it´s a typical of music filled with life. Very much so thanks to Lars Ek. It´s a quite notable situation. Lars Ek has been playing the accordion for a long time, he has been playing all types of music that can be played on an accordion. Just some few years ago he met, via phonograph records, the music of Nils Lind and Ragge Sundquist (two legendary Swedish performers from the 30´s and the 40´s, both dead since long ago - they both founded a school and a style) and, of course, also Frosini. And then, finally, Lars Ek felt that it was exactly here, in this style where he belonged. Lars Ek finally came home. Some sloppy listeners say that Lars Ek is copying the music of Nils Lind. Those are listeners who don´t listen. Others say that Lars is a maniac - he plays on an accordion of the Raggie Sundquist brand from 1937 and since a couple of years he also owns and plays an accordion once owned by Pietro Frosini, manufactured in 1927. That´s not mania. The style asks for such instruments. It´s most correct that way. Lars Ek has become incredibly popular. There are many reasons. He has lots of personality, he is a stage personality, he shows enthusiasm and joy while performing, he knows how to attract an audience (and the girls say he´s very handsome). One other reason is that the music Lars performs finds lots of response from the audience. And, please, don´t think it´s only those old ones who were around in the 30´s who love the music - so do even the young ones! Lars Ek x 2 is the name of the record. The explanation is simple. Lars wasn´t able to find a second accordionist to assist him. So, thanks to the technique he is his own second accordionist himself in five of the tunes performed. There is one more explanation. Lars performs melodies linked to the names of Nils Lind, Ragge Sundquist and Frosini, but he also plays five compositions of hes own. Just to show how he wants accordion music to be composed. Lars Ek does not need any recommendation, his records sell anyway. But you´re going to get some final words. This records is, regarding style, very rare to be recorded in 1982, it´s a matter of looking back and to do so with lots of skill, a look back that golden age of the accordion. It´s also a very personal record. The inspiration may very well be Nils Lind, Ragge Sundquist and Pietro Frosini. But it´s Lars Ek who plays. In his personal way. Which means that this is a record played in a very personal way.

Accordion,Double Bass,Guitar - Digital Download SKU: A0.1068893 Composed by Lars Ek. Folk,World. Full Performance. Duration 154. Lars Ek Cosmos Music c/o Musik & Underhållningsskrädderiet AB #1921497. Published by Lars Ek Cosmos Music c/o Musik & Underhållningsskrädderiet AB (A0.1068893). Something quite astonishing has happened in the Swedish accordion world during the last couple of years, we´ve got a new idol. It´s astonishing in two different ways: for us who know the accordion world it´s a fact that Lars Ek has been around as a professional accordionist for almost 20 years, since he finished school, second: he has become an idol playing music and in a style that has it´s roots 50 years back in the accordion music history. One could say that Lars Ek, today 35 years old, should have been 85, active in the 30´s. Himself, he confess that he feels kind of secret longing back to a time when accordionists were equilibrists, when accordionists played in a brilliant way, the golden age it was for all accordion music all over the world, an age that we will never meet again. It´s a type of music which is historical but not belonging to the museums, not dead, it´s a typical of music filled with life. Very much so thanks to Lars Ek. It´s a quite notable situation. Lars Ek has been playing the accordion for a long time, he has been playing all types of music that can be played on an accordion. Just some few years ago he met, via phonograph records, the music of Nils Lind and Ragge Sundquist (two legendary Swedish performers from the 30´s and the 40´s, both dead since long ago - they both founded a school and a style) and, of course, also Frosini. And then, finally, Lars Ek felt that it was exactly here, in this style where he belonged. Lars Ek finally came home. Some sloppy listeners say that Lars Ek is copying the music of Nils Lind. Those are listeners who don´t listen. Others say that Lars is a maniac - he plays on an accordion of the Raggie Sundquist brand from 1937 and since a couple of years he also owns and plays an accordion once owned by Pietro Frosini, manufactured in 1927. That´s not mania. The style asks for such instruments. It´s most correct that way. Lars Ek has become incredibly popular. There are many reasons. He has lots of personality, he is a stage personality, he shows enthusiasm and joy while performing, he knows how to attract an audience (and the girls say he´s very handsome). One other reason is that the music Lars performs finds lots of response from the audience. And, please, don´t think it´s only those old ones who were around in the 30´s who love the music - so do even the young ones! Lars Ek x 2 is the name of the record. The explanation is simple. Lars wasn´t able to find a second accordionist to assist him. So, thanks to the technique he is his own second accordionist himself in five of the tunes performed. There is one more explanation. Lars performs melodies linked to the names of Nils Lind, Ragge Sundquist and Frosini, but he also plays five compositions of hes own. Just to show how he wants accordion music to be composed. Lars Ek does not need any recommendation, his records sell anyway. But you´re going to get some final words. This records is, regarding style, very rare to be recorded in 1982, it´s a matter of looking back and to do so with lots of skill, a look back that golden age of the accordion. It´s also a very personal record. The inspiration may very well be Nils Lind, Ragge Sundquist and Pietro Frosini. But it´s Lars Ek who plays. In his personal way. Which means that this is a record played in a very personal way.

Accordion,Double Bass,Guitar - Digital Download SKU: A0.1068894 Composed by Lars Ek. Folk,World. Full Performance. Duration 225. Lars Ek Cosmos Music c/o Musik & Underhållningsskrädderiet AB #1921499. Published by Lars Ek Cosmos Music c/o Musik & Underhållningsskrädderiet AB (A0.1068894). Something quite astonishing has happened in the Swedish accordion world during the last couple of years, we´ve got a new idol. It´s astonishing in two different ways: for us who know the accordion world it´s a fact that Lars Ek has been around as a professional accordionist for almost 20 years, since he finished school, second: he has become an idol playing music and in a style that has it´s roots 50 years back in the accordion music history. One could say that Lars Ek, today 35 years old, should have been 85, active in the 30´s. Himself, he confess that he feels kind of secret longing back to a time when accordionists were equilibrists, when accordionists played in a brilliant way, the golden age it was for all accordion music all over the world, an age that we will never meet again. It´s a type of music which is historical but not belonging to the museums, not dead, it´s a typical of music filled with life. Very much so thanks to Lars Ek. It´s a quite notable situation. Lars Ek has been playing the accordion for a long time, he has been playing all types of music that can be played on an accordion. Just some few years ago he met, via phonograph records, the music of Nils Lind and Ragge Sundquist (two legendary Swedish performers from the 30´s and the 40´s, both dead since long ago - they both founded a school and a style) and, of course, also Frosini. And then, finally, Lars Ek felt that it was exactly here, in this style where he belonged. Lars Ek finally came home. Some sloppy listeners say that Lars Ek is copying the music of Nils Lind. Those are listeners who don´t listen. Others say that Lars is a maniac - he plays on an accordion of the Raggie Sundquist brand from 1937 and since a couple of years he also owns and plays an accordion once owned by Pietro Frosini, manufactured in 1927. That´s not mania. The style asks for such instruments. It´s most correct that way. Lars Ek has become incredibly popular. There are many reasons. He has lots of personality, he is a stage personality, he shows enthusiasm and joy while performing, he knows how to attract an audience (and the girls say he´s very handsome). One other reason is that the music Lars performs finds lots of response from the audience. And, please, don´t think it´s only those old ones who were around in the 30´s who love the music - so do even the young ones! Lars Ek x 2 is the name of the record. The explanation is simple. Lars wasn´t able to find a second accordionist to assist him. So, thanks to the technique he is his own second accordionist himself in five of the tunes performed. There is one more explanation. Lars performs melodies linked to the names of Nils Lind, Ragge Sundquist and Frosini, but he also plays five compositions of hes own. Just to show how he wants accordion music to be composed. Lars Ek does not need any recommendation, his records sell anyway. But you´re going to get some final words. This records is, regarding style, very rare to be recorded in 1982, it´s a matter of looking back and to do so with lots of skill, a look back that golden age of the accordion. It´s also a very personal record. The inspiration may very well be Nils Lind, Ragge Sundquist and Pietro Frosini. But it´s Lars Ek who plays. In his personal way. Which means that this is a record played in a very personal way.

Accordion,Double Bass,Guitar - Digital Download SKU: A0.1068890 Composed by Lars Ek. Folk,World. Full Performance. Duration 259. Lars Ek Cosmos Music c/o Musik & Underhållningsskrädderiet AB #1921479. Published by Lars Ek Cosmos Music c/o Musik & Underhållningsskrädderiet AB (A0.1068890). Something quite astonishing has happened in the Swedish accordion world during the last couple of years, we´ve got a new idol. It´s astonishing in two different ways: for us who know the accordion world it´s a fact that Lars Ek has been around as a professional accordionist for almost 20 years, since he finished school, second: he has become an idol playing music and in a style that has it´s roots 50 years back in the accordion music history. One could say that Lars Ek, today 35 years old, should have been 85, active in the 30´s. Himself, he confess that he feels kind of secret longing back to a time when accordionists were equilibrists, when accordionists played in a brilliant way, the golden age it was for all accordion music all over the world, an age that we will never meet again. It´s a type of music which is historical but not belonging to the museums, not dead, it´s a typical of music filled with life. Very much so thanks to Lars Ek. It´s a quite notable situation. Lars Ek has been playing the accordion for a long time, he has been playing all types of music that can be played on an accordion. Just some few years ago he met, via phonograph records, the music of Nils Lind and Ragge Sundquist (two legendary Swedish performers from the 30´s and the 40´s, both dead since long ago - they both founded a school and a style) and, of course, also Frosini. And then, finally, Lars Ek felt that it was exactly here, in this style where he belonged. Lars Ek finally came home. Some sloppy listeners say that Lars Ek is copying the music of Nils Lind. Those are listeners who don´t listen. Others say that Lars is a maniac - he plays on an accordion of the Raggie Sundquist brand from 1937 and since a couple of years he also owns and plays an accordion once owned by Pietro Frosini, manufactured in 1927. That´s not mania. The style asks for such instruments. It´s most correct that way. Lars Ek has become incredibly popular. There are many reasons. He has lots of personality, he is a stage personality, he shows enthusiasm and joy while performing, he knows how to attract an audience (and the girls say he´s very handsome). One other reason is that the music Lars performs finds lots of response from the audience. And, please, don´t think it´s only those old ones who were around in the 30´s who love the music - so do even the young ones! Lars Ek x 2 is the name of the record. The explanation is simple. Lars wasn´t able to find a second accordionist to assist him. So, thanks to the technique he is his own second accordionist himself in five of the tunes performed. There is one more explanation. Lars performs melodies linked to the names of Nils Lind, Ragge Sundquist and Frosini, but he also plays five compositions of hes own. Just to show how he wants accordion music to be composed. Lars Ek does not need any recommendation, his records sell anyway. But you´re going to get some final words. This records is, regarding style, very rare to be recorded in 1982, it´s a matter of looking back and to do so with lots of skill, a look back that golden age of the accordion. It´s also a very personal record. The inspiration may very well be Nils Lind, Ragge Sundquist and Pietro Frosini. But it´s Lars Ek who plays. In his personal way. Which means that this is a record played in a very personal way.

Piano,Soprano Flute - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1311257 Composed by G F Handel. Arranged by Colin Kirkpatrick. Baroque,Historic,Instructional,Opera. Score and part. 6 pages. Colin Kirkpatrick Publications #900255. Published by Colin Kirkpatrick Publications (A0.1311257). This piece is probably Handel’s best-known melody, although it began life as an operatic aria. The opera was called Xerxes, sometimes written Serses and pronounced something like “ZERT-sees�. It was commissioned by The King’s Theatre in London and composed by Handel (who had become naturalized British and lived in London at the time) around 1737 and 1738. The opera is loosely based on the real historical figure King Xerxes, who ruled from around 522-486 BC and was the fourth king of the Achaemenid Empire, a vast region that covered most of the present-day Middle East including modern Turkey.  The melody is often known simply as Handel’s Largo (despite being marked “Larghetto� in the musical score) and is the opening aria in the opera. Known by its opening line Ombra mai fu the aria is sung by Xerxes to a plane tree: “Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, let fate smile upon you...�Although the melody has survived over the years, the opera itself was a complete failure when it was first performed at the King’s Theatre in London’s Haymarket in 1738. The style of the opera was not appreciated by London opera-goers and it generally received poor reviews. The audience may have been confused by the innovative nature of the work because Handel introduced unexpected comic elements into the plot.This arrangement for flute and piano is in G major and uses the lower register of the instrument thus making the arrangement suitable for elementary players.  The lowest note is the D just below the treble staff and the highest note is the G just above the top line. The piano part has been kept as simple as possible. Being so well-known, this piece would make a suitable encore.  

Bassoon,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1311222 Composed by G F Handel. Arranged by Colin Kirkpatrick. Baroque,Historic,Instructional,Opera. Score and part. 8 pages. Colin Kirkpatrick Publications #900214. Published by Colin Kirkpatrick Publications (A0.1311222). This piece is probably Handel’s best-known melody, although it began life as an operatic aria. The opera was called Xerxes, sometimes written Serses and pronounced something like “ZERT-sees�. It was commissioned by The King’s Theatre in London and composed by Handel (who had become naturalized British and lived in London at the time) around 1737 and 1738. The opera is loosely based on the real historical figure King Xerxes, who ruled from around 522-486 BC and was the fourth king of the Achaemenid Empire, a vast region that covered most of the present-day Middle East including modern Turkey.  The melody is often known simply as Handel’s Largo (despite being marked “Larghetto� in the musical score) and is the opening aria in the opera. Known by its opening line Ombra mai fu the aria is sung by Xerxes to a plane tree: “Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, let fate smile upon you...�Although the melody has survived over the years, the opera itself was a complete failure when it was first performed at the King’s Theatre in London’s Haymarket in 1738. The style of the opera was not appreciated by London opera-goers and it generally received poor reviews. The audience may have been confused by the innovative nature of the work because Handel introduced unexpected comic elements into the plot.This arrangement for bassoon is in E flat major. In the solo part, the lowest note is the B flat on the second line of the bass clef and the highest note is the E flat just above the bass staff. The piano part has been kept as simple as possible. Being so well-known, this piece would make a suitable encore.  

French Horn,Piano - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1311533 Composed by G F Handel. Arranged by Colin Kirkpatrick. Baroque,Historic,Instructional,Opera. Score and part. 6 pages. Colin Kirkpatrick Publications #900540. Published by Colin Kirkpatrick Publications (A0.1311533). This piece is probably Handel’s best-known melody, although it began life as an operatic aria. The opera was called Xerxes, sometimes written Serses and pronounced something like “ZERT-sees�. It was commissioned by The King’s Theatre in London and composed by Handel (who had become naturalized British and lived in London at the time) around 1737 and 1738. The opera is loosely based on the real historical figure King Xerxes, who ruled from around 522-486 BC and was the fourth king of the Achaemenid Empire, a vast region that covered most of the present-day Middle East including modern Turkey.  The melody is often known simply as Handel’s Largo (despite being marked “Larghetto� in the musical score) and is the opening aria in the opera. Known by its opening line Ombra mai fu the aria is sung by Xerxes to a plane tree: “Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, let fate smile upon you...�Although the melody has survived over the years, the opera itself was a complete failure when it was first performed at the King’s Theatre in London’s Haymarket in 1738. The style of the opera was not appreciated by London opera-goers and it generally received poor reviews. The audience may have been confused by the innovative nature of the work because Handel introduced unexpected comic elements into the plot.This arrangement for Horn in F (French horn) and piano is in B flat major. The lowest note in the horn part is the C just below the treble staff and the highest note is the F on the top line. The piano part has been kept as simple as possible.  

B-Flat Trumpet,Piano - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1311223 Composed by G F Handel. Arranged by Colin Kirkpatrick. Baroque,Historic,Instructional,Opera. Score and part. 6 pages. Colin Kirkpatrick Publications #900215. Published by Colin Kirkpatrick Publications (A0.1311223). This piece is probably Handel’s best-known melody, although it began life as an operatic aria. The opera was called Xerxes, sometimes written Serses and pronounced something like “ZERT-sees�. It was commissioned by The King’s Theatre in London and composed by Handel (who had become naturalized British and lived in London at the time) around 1737 and 1738. The opera is loosely based on the real historical figure King Xerxes, who ruled from around 522-486 BC and was the fourth king of the Achaemenid Empire, a vast region that covered most of the present-day Middle East including modern Turkey.  The melody is often known simply as Handel’s Largo (despite being marked “Larghetto� in the musical score) and is the opening aria in the opera. Known by its opening line Ombra mai fu the aria is sung by Xerxes to a plane tree: “Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, let fate smile upon you...�Although the melody has survived over the years, the opera itself was a complete failure when it was first performed at the King’s Theatre in London’s Haymarket in 1738. The style of the opera was not appreciated by London opera-goers and it generally received poor reviews. The audience may have been confused by the innovative nature of the work because Handel introduced unexpected comic elements into the plot.This arrangement for trumpet (or cornet) and piano is in concert E flat major (F major for solo part). In the transposed solo part, the lowest note is the C just below the treble staff and the highest note is the F on the top line of the staff. The piano part has been kept as simple as possible. Being so well-known, this piece would make a suitable encore.  

B-Flat Clarinet,Piano - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1313805 Composed by G F Handel. Arranged by Colin Kirkpatrick. Baroque,Historic,Instructional,Opera. Score and part. 6 pages. Colin Kirkpatrick Publications #902523. Published by Colin Kirkpatrick Publications (A0.1313805). This piece is probably Handel’s best-known melody, although it began life as an operatic aria. The opera was called Xerxes, sometimes written Serses and pronounced something like “ZERT-sees�. It was commissioned by The King’s Theatre in London and composed by Handel (who had become naturalized British and lived in London at the time) around 1737 and 1738. The opera is loosely based on the real historical figure King Xerxes, who ruled from around 522-486 BC and was the fourth king of the Achaemenid Empire, a vast region that covered most of the present-day Middle East including modern Turkey.  The melody is often known simply as Handel’s Largo (despite being marked “Larghetto� in the musical score) and is the opening aria in the opera. Known by its opening line Ombra mai fu the aria is sung by Xerxes to a plane tree: “Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, let fate smile upon you...�Although the melody has survived over the years, the opera itself was a complete failure when it was first performed at the King’s Theatre in London’s Haymarket in 1738. The style of the opera was not appreciated by London opera-goers and it generally received poor reviews. The audience may have been confused by the innovative nature of the work because Handel introduced unexpected comic elements into the plot.This arrangement for clarinet in B flat and piano is in E flat major. The lowest note in the clarinet part is written C just below the treble staff and the highest note is written F on the top line. The piano part has been kept as simple as possible.

Recorder Solo,Soprano Recorder - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1311260 Composed by G F Handel. Arranged by Colin Kirkpatrick. Baroque,Historic,Instructional,Opera. Individual part. 6 pages. Colin Kirkpatrick Publications #900258. Published by Colin Kirkpatrick Publications (A0.1311260). This piece is probably Handel’s best-known melody, although it began life as an operatic aria. The opera was called Xerxes, sometimes written Serses and pronounced something like “ZERT-sees�. It was commissioned by The King’s Theatre in London and composed by Handel (who had become naturalized British and lived in London at the time) around 1737 and 1738. The opera is loosely based on the real historical figure King Xerxes, who ruled from around 522-486 BC and was the fourth king of the Achaemenid Empire, a vast region that covered most of the present-day Middle East including modern Turkey.  The melody is often known simply as Handel’s Largo (despite being marked “Larghetto� in the musical score) and is the opening aria in the opera. Known by its opening line Ombra mai fu the aria is sung by Xerxes to a plane tree: “Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, let fate smile upon you...�Although the melody has survived over the years, the opera itself was a complete failure when it was first performed at the King’s Theatre in London’s Haymarket in 1738. The style of the opera was not appreciated by London opera-goers and it generally received poor reviews. The audience may have been confused by the innovative nature of the work because Handel introduced unexpected comic elements into the plot.This arrangement for soprano (descant) recorder(s) and piano is in G major and uses the lower and middle register of the instrument.  It could be used with any number of descant recorders. The lowest note is the D just below the treble staff and the highest note is the G just above the top line. The piano part has been kept as simple as possible.  

Piano,Viola - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.522292 Composed by G F Handel. Arranged by Colin Kirkpatrick. Easter,Holiday,Wedding. Score and part. 6 pages. Colin Kirkpatrick Publications #6637577. Published by Colin Kirkpatrick Publications (A0.522292). This piece is probably Handel’s best-known melody, although it began life as an operatic aria. The opera was called Xerxes, sometimes written Serses and pronounced something like “ZERT-seesâ€�. It was commissioned by The King’s Theater in London and composed by Handel (who had become naturalized British and lived in London at the time) around 1737 and 1738. The opera is loosely based on the historical figure King Xerxes, who ruled from around 522-486 BC and was the fourth king of the Achaemenid Empire, a vast region that covered most of the present-day Middle East.   The melody is often known simply as Handel’s Largo (despite being marked “Larghettoâ€� in the musical score) and is the opening aria in the opera. The aria, known by its opening line Ombra mai fu is sung by Xerxes to a plane tree: “Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, let fate smile upon you...â€� Although this lovely melody has survived over the years, the opera itself was a complete failure when it was first performed in London in 1738. This arrangement is in G major and the top note is the G above the alto clef (G5) and the piece generally requires the use of long and sustained bowing (indicted in the score), though the viola fingering has been omitted. The piano part has been kept as simple as possible. Being so well-known, this piece would make a popular encore number for a viola recital.

Cello,Piano - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.522291 Composed by G F Handel. Arranged by Colin Kirkpatrick. Baroque,Easter,Holiday. Score and part. 6 pages. Colin Kirkpatrick Publications #6632869. Published by Colin Kirkpatrick Publications (A0.522291). This piece is probably Handel’s best-known melody, although it began life as an operatic aria. The opera was called Xerxes, sometimes written Serses and pronounced something like “ZERT-seesâ€�. It was commissioned by The King’s Theater in London and composed by Handel (who had become naturalized British and lived in London at the time) around 1737 and 1738. The opera is loosely based on the historical figure King Xerxes, who ruled from around 522-486 BC and was the fourth king of the Achaemenid Empire, a vast region that covered most of the present-day Middle East.   The melody is often known simply as Handel’s Largo (despite being marked “Larghettoâ€� in the musical score) and is the opening aria in the opera. The aria, known by its opening line Ombra mai fu is sung by Xerxes to a plane tree: “Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, let fate smile upon you...â€� Although this lovely melody has survived over the years, the opera itself was a complete failure when it was first performed in London in 1738. This arrangement is in G major and the cello part is written in the bass clef throughout. The top note is the G above the bass clef (G4) and the piece generally requires the use of long and sustained bowing (indicted in the score), though the cello fingering has been omitted. The piano part has been kept as simple as possible. Being so well-known, this piece would make a popular encore number for a cello recital.